External review and verification of your Greenhouse Gas inventory. It provides reassurance and lends extra credence to your carbon reporting.
Many small-to-medium sized companies are internalising some of their sustainability reporting. They’re doing so with dedicated staff or upskilling of other team members. This means that companies who produce their own Greenhouse Gas inventories are looking for expert support to verify that the report meets the requirement methodologies such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
A much more in depth process is a Verification according ISO 14064-3. This standard is part of the ISO 14064 series, which provides standards for the quantification, reporting, and verification of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals. Specifically, ISO 14064-3 focuses on the validation and verification of GHG assertions. Verification is the process of evaluating the accuracy and reliability of an existing GHG statement. The goal is to ensure that the data is credible and meets criteria.
Verification is often important as part of a Green House Gas reporting program – such as CDP or Ecovadis. While it is not mandatory at the lower levels of GHG achievement, where self declaration or un-validated information is acceptable, higher tiers of success expect a verification.
Greenhouse Gas Review and Verification will...
- An external review is a process to check the decisions that have been made when establishing a Greenhouse Gas inventory. It is particularly important to ensure this is correct for the base year as this forms the basis of reporting going forwards.
- The review considers the Consolidation Approach, the Organisational Boundaries and Reporting Boundaries. It assesses the emissions factors, activity data and assumptions, as well as checking the output itself.
- We discuss any issues with clients, to assist with the internal upskilling with a view to improving the final inventory.
- The Validation exercise is a more in depth and process-led procedure. It is likely to involve a site visit and a complete review of an organisation’s operations to ensure we accurately account for all emissions. Since it is an audit, it requires access to source data – such as electronic smart meter, fuel card receipts, business travel receipts etc.
Frequently Asked Questions about Greenhouse Gas Verification
- What is the difference between expert review and validation?
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The aim of of the expert review is to check the decisions made during the assembly of the GHG inventory and the technical details within it. The validation follows a stricter procedure and aims to independently establish if it is an accurate and truthful representation of the real situation – hence the requirement for primary data sources
- What is the difference between validation and verification?
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Validation assesses whether a GHG assertion (e.g., a claim about future GHG reductions or project plans) is reasonable and accurate based on evidence. It is typical to conduct the validation before or during the early stages of a project. This could for example include the reductions in GHG associated with the future development of a methane recovery plant.
Verification is the process of evaluating the accuracy and reliability of a GHG assertion after the fact. Usually it refers to actual GHG emissions or reductions that have already occurred. The goal is to ensure that the data is credible and meets the required criteria.
- Does my GHG Inventory need to be verified?
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Under specific circumstances a GHG inventory requires certification, such as within emissions trading schemes. More commonly verification shows a rigorous approach to GHG management. It allows attaining of higher sustainability status through mechanisms such as CDP, Ecovadis and the NHS Evergreen Assessments.
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