Overview
The GHG Protocol Life Cycle Databases list is an index of third-party life cycle inventory (LCI) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions databases. It helps users find datasets to support product life cycle and corporate value chain (Scope 3) GHG inventories. Finance professionals may use it to source standardised environmental data for emissions reporting and risk assessment.
Organisation behind the tool
The list is maintained by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol), a widely used global framework for measuring and managing GHG emissions, developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The GHG Protocol hosts the database index on its tools and resources platform.
What the tool does
Provides a structured list of third-party LCI and emissions data sources to support life cycle and Scope 3 GHG accounting.
Includes summaries of data formats, accessibility, content and transparency for each database.
Links to individual databases covering a range of sectors, regions and inventory types (e.g. ecoinvent, ELCD, IPCC Emissions Factor Database).
Clarifies criteria for inclusion: direct usability and publicly accessible documentation.
Target audience
Primary users are sustainability practitioners and climate accountants compiling life cycle and Scope 3 emissions inventories. Other audiences include researchers, policy analysts, consultants and educators interested in environmental data for life cycle assessment and emissions estimation.
Relevance to finance professionals
- Risk assessment – Reference environmental data can support evaluation of climate-related risks in supply chains and asset portfolios.
- ESG analysis – Standardised emissions data assists in preparing environmental disclosures (e.g. GHG intensity metrics, Scope 3 footprint).
- Market/commodity insights – Life cycle emissions profiles may inform analysis of carbon intensity across materials, energy and products.
- Investment context – Transparent data sources support integration of long-term environmental performance and regulatory compliance into investment decisions.
