Updated handbook: GHG emissions reporting
Handbooks | December 2025
The measurement and reporting of GHG emissions under the GHG Protocol and IFRS® Sustainability Disclosure Standards.
This handbook explains GHG emissions reporting 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.
In addition to new Q&As and examples on application of the GHG Protocol, this December 2025 edition includes in-depth guidance on measuring and reporting GHG emissions under IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. These updates include the latest amendments to IFRS S2, Climate-related Disclosures, and practical implications for companies.
Applicability
- Standards and guidance of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol
- IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards
- All entities
GHG Protocol on the international stage
The GHG Protocol moved to center stage when it was leveraged by both IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards and European Sustainability Reporting Standards. This practical approach was widely lauded – and was followed by the restructuring of the Protocol’s governance and the start of a multi-stakeholder project to update the Protocol’s standards.
As we head toward the end of 2025, the application issues associated with leveraging – not adopting wholesale – the Protocol’s standards are becoming more clear. The standards have been incorporated into reporting frameworks that have broader principles and requirements, and this integration of the standards requires new interpretations that are not relevant when applying the GHG Protocol alone.
As examples, the assessment of materiality in the context of financial reporting is more complex than under the GHG Protocol, and the approach to the acquisition and disposal of businesses in financial reporting is prospective rather than retrospective.
To address many of these interpretive issues, the updates in this edition of our handbook are mainly related to measuring GHG emissions under IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. We also cover recent amendments by the International Sustainability Standards Board and the practical implications for preparers.
As always, we hope this handbook helps to provide you with a foundational understanding of GHG emissions reporting.
Report contents
Each chapter comprises the following:
- A sections, which focus on the GHG Protocol.
- These sections form the core discussion and explain many of the fundamentals of all GHG emissions reporting, in particular measurement.
- To the extent the discussion deals with a topic that is different from the approach under IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards, it is cross-referenced to the relevant discussion under IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards.
- B sections, which focus on IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards and differences from the GHG Protocol.
- Executive Summary
- Foundational concepts
- Organizational boundary
- Operational boundary
- Emissions calculations
- Scope 1 emissions
- Scope 2 emissions
- Scope 3 emissions
- Tracking emissions and setting targets
- Carbon credits
- Reporting
Download the document:
GHG emissions reporting
Download PDFExplore more
Resource
All about California’s climate laws
The laws require reporting about climate risks and GHG emissions for all US companies in scope – whether public or private. With companies getting ready to report, we keep you up to date with the latest news.
Resource
Sustainability reporting in the EU
US companies could be impacted by certain EU sustainability reporting regulations – notably the Corporate Sustainability reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
Resource
Handbook: Climate risk in the financial statements
Our in-depth guide includes questions, issues and examples relevant for companies thinking about how climate risk can affect their financial statements.
Meet our team
