The complexity of environmental compliance in Europe is increasing rapidly, turning mandatory reporting requirements into a critical challenge for corporate leadership. When it comes to climate disclosure, particularly regarding Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, accuracy is paramount because these metrics are the likely foundation for future regulatory and trading schemes.
The groundwork for credible emissions reporting is already established in international best practices, such as the GHG Protocol. This comprehensive guidance is highly likely to inform the specific requirements imposed by future EU directives concerning which facilities and sources are included, how the base year is set, the exact calculation methodologies used, and the monitoring and verification approaches required.
Companies must recognize that while they may utilize their own calculation tools, these tools must be fully consistent with the established international approaches. A variety of calculation tools exist, including cross-sector tools designed to be applied broadly across many different sectors—covering areas such as stationary combustion and mobile combustion equipment (including fleets, trucks, planes, and rail cars). Leveraging tools that have been peer-reviewed by experts and industry leaders is encouraged to ensure the best available methodologies are employed.
The increasing stringency of requirements, including references to existing European environmental directives, means that companies must move past viewing climate reporting as an academic exercise. It requires immediate operational alignment and foresight to prevent costly penalties or disruption. Getting the methodology right now—especially concerning Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions—is essential for building the integrity needed for auditable assurance and robust strategic planning.
Stop guessing your carbon footprint. Future EU regulatory and trading schemes will mandate stringent GHG accounting. Learn the methodologies that guarantee compliance at the ESG Congress (€599): esg-congress.com