Greenly Help Center

Carbon Accounting Frameworks

Learn the methodology, theory, and standards (GHG Protocol) behind your carbon assessment.

By Support1 author31 articles

Key Concepts

Definitions of Scope 1, 2, 3, CO2e, and other essential carbon accounting terms.

Understanding Carbon, CO₂, CO₂e, and Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)Understand the difference between carbon, CO₂, CO₂e, and greenhouse gases (GHGs) — and when to use each term.
What is a carbon footprint?Learn what a carbon footprint is, how it is measured (tCO₂e), and why different greenhouse gases are converted into CO₂e.
What is a GHG inventory?Understand what a GHG inventory is, why organisations build one, and how emissions are typically reported (scopes and categories).
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)Learn what a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is, what stages it covers, and how it helps quantify environmental impacts across a product’s lifecycle.
What are avoided emissions?
What is Green IT?
What are carbon offset projects?Definition of carbon offset projects and carbon credits, with an overview of how prices vary, key quality criteria (measurability, verifiability, additionality, permanence, uniqueness), and why choosing reliable certifications matters.
Carbon neutrality or "net-zero emissions"A guide to what “carbon neutrality” (or “net-zero”) means, why these claims can be controversial for companies and products, and the practical actions organisations can take to support the global…
What are organizational and operational boundaries?Quick explanation of what organisational and operational boundaries are in a GHG inventory, how to choose an approach (equity share vs control), and how this links to Scopes 1, 2,…
Induced, avoided, and net emissions: definitions, examples, and reporting guidanceDefinitions of induced, avoided, and net emissions, with practical examples, simple calculation principles, and guidance on how to report avoided emissions transparently (and avoid misleading “net” claims).
Emission FactorDefinition of an emission factor and how it is used to calculate emissions (CO₂e) from activity or spend data, with an overview of the main sources and methods Greenly uses…
Navigating GHG Emission Base Year Recalculations: When, Why, and How to Rebaseline
Find Out How to Source Renewable Electricity in the USQuick guide to sourcing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) in the US: where to look (e.g., Green-e certified options), examples of providers, and key criteria to check (certification, tracking systems, geography,…
The French Carbon Methodology BEGES v5Overview of BEGES v5 , the French regulatory methodology for greenhouse gas assessments (similar to the GHG Protocol), with a clear breakdown of its 6 reporting categories and what each…
The GHG ProtocolOverview of the GHG Protocol and how it structures a company’s emissions into Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 , with clear definitions and examples of what each scope…
GHG Protocol vs BEGES v5 - Key DifferencesComparison of the GHG Protocol and BEGES v5 : how Scopes vs Categories map, and the main methodological differences (Scope 2 approaches, capital goods amortisation, and which topics are included…
Understanding Freight Flows: The Difference Between Inbound/Outbound and Upstream/DownstreamDefinitions of inbound vs outbound freight and upstream vs downstream freight, with practical rules and examples to help classify transport emissions correctly (including the relevant Scope 3 categories).
When and Why Companies Need to Rebaseline Their Emissions

Other Questions

FAQs covering specific methodological edge cases and compliance rules.