Emissions
Emissions means the release of greenhouse gases and/or their precursors into the atmosphere over a specified area and period of time.
What are the 7 greenhouse gases (GHG)?
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O)
- Industrial gases:
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
- Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
- Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)
Air pollutants like ammonia (NH3) are the other type of gaseous emissions from agriculture. They are not greenhouse gases, but they do negatively impacts on human and animal health while also damaging ecosystems.
Three groups or scopes
Greenhouse gas emissions are categorised into three groups or 'Scopes' by the most widely-used international accounting tool, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol. Scope 1 covers direct emissions from owned or controlled sources. Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating and cooling consumed by the reporting company. Scope 3 includes all other indirect emissions that occur in a company’s value chain.
| Scope 1 | Scope 2 | Scope 3 |
|
Purchased electricity, heat and steam | Purchased goods and services
Business travel Employee commuting Waste disposal Use of sold products Transportation and distribution (up- and downstream) Investments Leased assets and franchises |
