Industries

Helping clients meet their business challenges begins with an in-depth understanding of the industries in which they work. That’s why KPMG LLP established its industry-driven structure. In fact, KPMG LLP was the first of the Big Four firms to organize itself along the same industry lines as clients.

How We Work

We bring together passionate problem-solvers, innovative technologies, and full-service capabilities to create opportunity with every insight.

Learn more

Careers & Culture

What is culture? Culture is how we do things around here. It is the combination of a predominant mindset, actions (both big and small) that we all commit to every day, and the underlying processes, programs and systems supporting how work gets done.

Learn more

Handbook: GHG emissions reporting

Handbooks | December 2024

Our guide explains the measurement and reporting of GHG emissions through the lens of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

This handbook provides an introductory explanation of GHG emissions reporting and is written for finance professionals who are more familiar with financial reporting and generally accepted accounting principles. As such, we explain concepts in a way that we think will be the most understandable for you, our audience.

This December 2024 edition includes newly added Q&As and examples on various aspects of GHG emissions reporting – particularly selection of emission factors – and an update on the future developments for the GHGP, voluntary carbon markets, and mandatory emissions reporting frameworks.

Applicability

Standards and guidance of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol

  • All entities  

A consistent, transparent, comparable, reliable and timely GHG inventory is at the heart of good climate reporting. I have this handbook dog-eared and highlighted because it's such a valuable resource every time I review GHG calculations and disclosures.

Maura Hodge

KPMG US Audit ESG Leader

Prime time for the GHG Protocol

The GHG Protocol has gone from obscurity in the world of financial reporting to having its moment in the spotlight.

The Protocol is the foundation leveraged by both IFRS® Sustainability Disclosure Standards and European Sustainability Reporting Standards for reporting GHG emissions. And in the US, thousands of companies are set to report in accordance with the GHG Protocol under the California climate laws.

With this level of adoption – in addition to widespread voluntary reporting – comes increased scrutiny and pressure on the words in the standards. Originally inspired by financial reporting concepts, the Protocol now finds itself lagging today’s accounting concepts.

Timely then that the Protocol has embarked on an ambitious project to update its standards, with the International Sustainability Standards Board and other financial reporting stakeholders, monitoring carefully. Exposure drafts on a variety of issues are expected in 2025 and we encourage all financial reporting professional to think carefully about the proposals and their application for corporate reporting. Your voice counts!

In the meantime, we hope this handbook helps to provide you with a foundational understanding of GHG emissions reported. Anchored in the Protocol. Your GHG 101. 

Report contents

  • Executive Summary
  • Foundational concepts
  • Organizational boundary
  • Operational boundary
  • Emissions calculations
  • Scope 1 emissions
  • Scope 2 emissions
  • Scope 3 emissions
  • Tracking emissions and setting targets
  • Offset credits
  • Reporting

Download the document:

GHG emissions reporting

Download PDF

Explore more

Accounting Research Online

Access our accounting research website for additional resources for your financial reporting needs.

Thank you!

Thank you for contacting KPMG. We will respond to you as soon as possible.

Contact KPMG

Use this form to submit general inquiries to KPMG. We will respond to you as soon as possible.

By submitting, you agree that KPMG LLP may process any personal information you provide pursuant to KPMG LLP's Privacy Statement.

An error occurred. Please contact customer support.

Job seekers

Visit our careers section or search our jobs database.

Submit RFP

Use the RFP submission form to detail the services KPMG can help assist you with.

Office locations

International hotline

You can confidentially report concerns to the KPMG International hotline

Press contacts

Do you need to speak with our Press Office? Here's how to get in touch.

Headline