Greenhouse Gas Accounting Services
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Your Sustainability Journey Begins with Greenhouse Gas Accounting
Greenhouse gas accounting is recognized as measuring and tracking greenhouse gas emissions generated from a defined operational boundary. Greenhouse gas accounting is highly specific to the organizational structure and needs of the client, but can be completed using widely recognized standards and frameworks. LifeCity recognizes The GHG Protocol Corporate Standard as its primary standard for emissions accounting.
Greenhouse Gas Accounting Is Your Next Best Step
GHG accounting is a good first step in sustainability because it provides the data and insights necessary to build an effective and transparent strategy. As the foundational principle "you cannot manage what you do not measure" suggests, quantifying your environmental impact is the essential starting point for any meaningful action. Furthermore, one of the most important ways companies can make a difference in the world is by mitigating global climate change. Greenhouse Gas Accounting is the most straightforward opportunity to take action and leave a legacy for future generations.
LifeCity provides this service in 5 phases:
Client onboarding
Scope and boundary definition
Data collection and aggregation
Quality and accuracy analysis
Report generation and Recommendations
After we support your organization in understanding your baseline emissions, we can then help you understand how to strategically reduce those emissions and improve your environmental impact.
Setting Reduction Targets
Once the Greenhouse Gas inventory has been calculated, we identify opportunities to reduce emissions by locating your organization’s “hot spots,” and making actionable plans to reduce these sources. LifeCity recommends setting reduction plans that are in alignment with The Paris Agreement to limit warming to 1.5°C, and reach net-zero by 2050.
Our team will help you set short-term, achievable goals to reduce your emissions gradually each year.
Purchasing Emissions Offsets
While reduction is the primary avenue that LifeCity recommends to eliminate GHG emissions, clients may wish to offset their emissions by purchasing carbon credits while working to achieve reduction goals. We’ll work with you to choose carbon credits that are third-party verified to ensure they are real and measurable.
A McKinsey & Company report found that strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices can boost a company's operating profits by as much as 60%.
60%
Benefits of Greenhouse Gas Accounting
Organizations should do greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting to reduce their environmental impact, improve operational efficiencies, comply with regulations, attract investors and customers by enhancing their reputation, and manage climate-related risks. This accounting process provides a quantifiable baseline to set emissions reduction goals, informs stakeholders about their climate efforts, and helps build a sustainable business for the future.
Creates a data-driven baseline
GHG accounting quantifies and categorizes your organization's emissions, typically into Scope 1 (direct), Scope 2 (purchased electricity), and Scope 3 (value chain). This process provides a clear picture of your carbon footprint, which is necessary for setting realistic, science-based reduction targets.
Identifies cost-saving opportunities
Measuring energy consumption often reveals hidden inefficiencies in operations, transportation, and the supply chain. By identifying "emission hotspots," companies can implement energy-saving measures, such as switching to efficient lighting or optimizing logistics, which reduces operational costs and improves profitability.
Mitigates risk and ensures compliance
Governments and financial regulators worldwide are enacting and tightening mandatory climate disclosure laws. By establishing a robust GHG accounting process early, a company can proactively prepare for regulatory changes, avoid potential fines, and safeguard its long-term resilience.
Enhances brand reputation and credibility
In a market increasingly driven by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, transparent and verifiable emissions reporting builds trust with customers, investors, and other stakeholders. It demonstrates a genuine commitment to sustainability and helps prevent accusations of greenwashing.
Our Integrated Sustainability Reporting Platform
Our proprietary sustainability platform, Love Your City™, makes data collection and local impact reporting easier than ever. When meeting with stakeholders or sharing quarterly results, our tool offers customizable dashboards, automated metrics, and shareable reports. It’s built to support both small teams and enterprise-scale reporting all in one easy-to-use system.
Ready to complete a Greenhouse Gas Accounting Assessment?
Let’s work together to build a cleaner, more efficient future. Schedule your free consultation today and take the first step toward meaningful sustainability..
FAQs About Greenhouse Gas Accounting
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Here is an example of a strong reduction plan after a GHG accounting assessment:
Reduce business travel by 50% for executive leadership and department leads by holding virtual meetings every other month in 2025.
This goal is clear and actionable. LifeCity always uses SMART goals when establishing company targets (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound).
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Our process typically takes 2-4 months, depending upon the scope and extent with which you have data available. Timelines vary based on the size and complexity of your organization, but we provide a clear schedule upfront.
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The GHG Protocol provides an internationally recognized framework for companies to measure, report, and manage their GHG emissions. It categorizes emissions into three scopes:
Scope 1 (Direct Emissions): From sources owned or controlled by the company, such as fuel combustion in company-owned vehicles or facilities.
Scope 2 (Indirect Emissions): From the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heat, or cooling consumed by the company.
Scope 3 (Other Indirect Emissions): All other indirect emissions from the company's value chain, including upstream (e.g., purchased goods and services) and downstream (e.g., use of products by customers) activities.
Our process can include all three scopes depending upon your goals and available data resources, although most companies prioritize Scope 1 and 2 Emissions.
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It’s helpful to provide budget information about your vendors, purchasing, and energy usage. Every business is unique and we can help you source the correct data necessary for Greenhouse Gas Accounting purposes.
“We've been working with LifeCity for over a decade, and the impact validation services they provide have helped us in numerous ways. From helping estimate the environmental impact of potential investments to validating the outcomes of our loans after closing, LifeCity has helped us ensure that we're able to keep pushing the envelope toward greater impact each year. ”
- Cliff Kenwood, Co-Founder and Partner
How We’ve Helped Organizations Drive Impact Through Reporting
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