Project overview

The greenhouse gas (GHG) protocol, a collaboration led by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, is developing new guidance for corporate accounting of land use, land use change, biogenic products, carbon removals, and storage. This initiative seeks to improve transparency and consistency in corporate GHG inventories, enabling companies to better quantify emissions and removals, set targets, and monitor progress towards mitigation goals. The guidance will align with existing standards and is expected to be adopted by initiatives such as the Science Based Targets Initiative.

Summary of scoping survey

In early 2019, a survey was conducted with 417 respondents from over 50 countries, including representatives from businesses, governments, NGOs, and academia. Over 75% of respondents rated new guidance on key topics as important: Natural carbon removals (86%), technological removals (76%), bioenergy (84%), land use (88%), and land use change (88%). However, despite relevance, fewer than half of companies account for emissions and removals from land use (36%), land use change (34%), bioenergy (42%), and technological removals (12%). The most cited reason for not accounting was the lack of guidance.

Scope

The guidance will address carbon dioxide removals and storage, emissions and removals from agriculture, forestry, land use, and land use change, and biogenic products such as bioenergy.

Draft list of topics to address

• Carbon dioxide removals: Definitions will distinguish between removals and carbon storage, as well as removal enhancements and avoided emissions. Guidance will cover biogenic (e.g., afforestation, agroforestry) and technological (e.g., direct air capture) removals. It includes accounting methods across Scopes 1 and 3, short- and long-term storage, and utilisation. Companies will be supported in reporting, setting targets, and tracking changes over time, including the role of removals in net zero targets.
• Land sector: Emissions and removals from forest and crop management, livestock production, and land use changes such as deforestation and afforestation will be covered. Accounting methods include land-based and activity-based approaches. Scope-specific guidance will be provided for producers, users, and investors. Quantification methods will address different carbon pools, data sources, and uncertainty management. Reporting guidance will clarify fossil vs biogenic carbon, avoided emissions, and credit purchases. Targets may include land-based strategies and recalculated base year figures.
• Bioenergy and other biogenic products: The guidance will include accounting for direct and indirect emissions across Scopes 1 to 3, including upstream and downstream life cycles. It will cover carbon capture and storage in the value chain, and how to assess mitigation impacts. Companies will be guided in reporting and target-setting for emissions and removals related to biogenic products and in accounting for avoided emissions and certificates.

Approach

Development is based on a multi-stakeholder process involving businesses, governments, NGOs, and experts globally. It builds on methodologies such as IPCC guidelines, ISO 14064-1, and REDD+ programs. Drafts will be pilot tested by companies to assess practicality. The final guidance will emphasise technical rigour, clarity, and alignment with GHG Protocol principles of relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy, conservativeness, and permanence.

Governance and development process

The process is governed by five groups: Secretariat, Advisory Committee, Technical Working Groups, Review Group, and Pilot Testing Group. Each has defined roles ranging from content development to feedback provision. Decision-making follows GHG Protocol criteria prioritising principles, alignment with climate goals, and feasibility.

Timeline

Development began in 2020 and will conclude with publication in Q1 2025. Key phases include stakeholder engagement, drafting, review, pilot testing, revision, and finalisation.