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Carbon Inventory

Carbon Inventory covers all programmes and standards involving the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Voluntary or mandatory Carbon Inventory is becoming increasingly popular in the aviation and maritime sectors.


Overview


Carbon Inventory covers the following programmes and standards:
 
  • Voluntary carbon reporting (GHG inventory)
  • UK Mandatory Reporting
  • Bilan Carbone©

Voluntary carbon reporting (GHG inventory)


A GHG inventory represents a true and fair account of the GHG emissions a company is responsible for. It covers all six greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride) specified in the Kyoto Protocol.

As a minimum, a GHG inventory includes direct GHG emissions from sources the company owns or controls (scope 1 emissions) and indirect emissions which incur during the generation of purchased electricity (scope 2 emissions). 

The preparation of a GHG inventory underlies certain rules. The most widely used GHG accounting tool for companies and other types of organizations is the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (GHG Protocol). It is based on the following five principles which are intended to underpin all aspects of GHG accounting and reporting:
  1. Relevance
  2. Completeness
  3. Consistency
  4. Transparency
  5. Accuracy
A GHG inventory holds a number of advantages for airlines:
 
  • Identifying cost-effective reduction opportunities
  • Reducing resource and energy-related costs
  • Managing GHG and resource-related risks
  • Serving the information needs of your supply chain partners
  • Demonstrating your green credentials
  • Recognition for early voluntary actions
 

UK Mandatory Reporting


Under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic and Directors' Report) Regulations 2013, around 1,100 of the UK's largest companies are now required to disclose information on GHG emissions in their directors' report. The requirement comes into place for company reporting years ending on or after 30 September 2013. 

Companies are required to report if they meet the following two conditions:
  1. Incorporated in the UK
  2. Equity share capital is officially listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, any other stock exchange in the European Economic Area or the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ
Regulated airlines are required to:
 
  • Report on GHG emissions from activities for which they are responsible. This means participants may have to report emissions produced outside the UK.
  • Calculate and report the annual quantity of emissions in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) from all six Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride.
  • Include material emissions from the combustion of fuel and the operation of any facilities (so-called scope 1 emissions) and emissions resulting from the purchase of electricity, heat, steam or cooling (so-called scope 2 emissions).
  • State what methodology has been used for calculating GHG emissions.
  • Show emissions disclosed in the previous year's directors' report (only relevant for the second reporting year).
  • Express annual emissions using at least one intensity ratio related to the company's activities.

Bilan Carbone ©


The Bilan Carbone® method is a GHG reporting system developed and managed by Association Bilan Carbone. It can be used to comply with the French mandatory GHG reporting scheme known as the set of environmental laws 'Grenelle 2'.

A Bilan Carbone® goes further than the mandatory GHG reporting requirement as one of its objectives is to determine the vulnerability of a business to fossil fuel availability and prices volatility, and propose mitigation actions to limit these risks. 

It consists of 6 key steps:
  1. Develop awareness of the greenhouse effect
  2. Define the scope of study
  3. Gather data
  4. Process and analyse the results
  5. Establish a plan of action for reductions
  6. Implement the plan
The Bilan Carbone® accounting tools are clear, readable, flexible and comprehensive, and allow the prioritization of emissions by size. This prioritization is an essential stage for the construction of reduction action plans.

> For more information, read our F.A.Q.