What Is the GHG Protocol? A Guide for Growing Teams That Need to Report Emissions

If you’re hearing about GHG reporting for the first time, you’re not alone. But it’s quickly becoming essential for staying relevant with customers, investors and making smarter business decisions. Let’s start with the elephant in the room:

Reporting emissions sounds hard.

And it used to be.

Complex spreadsheets. Vague standards. Expensive consultants.

But today, there’s a clear global framework:

The GHG Protocol.

This guide breaks down what it is, why it matters, and how your team can finally own your carbon reporting without needing a PhD or external consultants.

What is the GHG Protocol?

The GHG Protocol is the world’s most widely used framework for measuring and managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Developed by the WRI and WBCSD, it’s the foundation behind most ESG and carbon disclosure standards.

If you’re reporting CO₂ emissions, you’re probably expected to follow this framework.

It splits emissions into three categories:

• Scope 1: Direct emissions from your operations (e.g., fuel use)

• Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heat, or cooling

• Scope 3: Indirect emissions from your value chain (e.g., suppliers, transport, employee travel)

Where Does Bilan Carbone Fit In?

In France and the EU, Bilan Carbone is a national methodology aligned with the GHG Protocol. It uses the same three scopes and is commonly expected by clients, investors, and regulators.

So if you’re operating in or with French/EU markets, these are the standards that matter.

Why Many Teams Delay CO₂ Tracking

• “We don’t know where to start.”

• “It feels too manual and technical.”

• “We’re afraid of making a mistake.”

You’re not alone.

That’s why most companies wait, until they have to report.

But it doesn’t need to be that way.

How Verdio Makes Carbon Reporting Easy

With Verdio, you don’t need to be an expert in emissions accounting.

You simply:

✅ Connect your accounting system

✅ Let Verdio map your activities to the correct scopes

✅ Automatically generate GHG- and Bilan Carbone-aligned reports

✅ Track your emissions over time and share your results

No consultants. No guesswork. Just clarity, and on demand.

In short

• The GHG Protocol is the global standard for CO₂ reporting

• Bilan Carbone is its French counterpart

• Most businesses need one (or both) to stay credible with clients, investors, and future regulations

• Verdio lets you do this in-house, continuously, fast, accurate, and empowering