Glossary

a. Scope 1, Scope 2, Scope 3:
Categories used to classify greenhouse gas emissions. Scope 1 refers to direct emissions from owned or controlled sources, Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from purchased electricity, and Scope 3 includes indirect emissions from the entire value chain.

b. Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e):
A standardized unit for measuring the total greenhouse gas emissions, representing the amount of carbon dioxide that would have the same global warming potential.

a. Emission tracking:
The process of monitoring and recording greenhouse gas emissions produced by an organization.

b. Trend analysis:
Examining patterns or changes in emissions data over time to identify long-term trends.

c. Anomaly detection:
Identifying and flagging unusual or unexpected variations in emissions data.

d. Benchmarking:
Comparing an organization’s emissions performance against industry peers or established standards.

e. Predictive analysis:
Using data and models to make predictions about future emissions trends.

a. IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change):
An international scientific body that assesses and reports on the scientific understanding of climate change.

b. SBTi (Science-Based Targets initiative):
A collaboration between organizations to set and achieve scientifically informed emissions reduction targets.

c. GHG Protocol (Greenhouse Gas Protocol):
A widely-used accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions.

a. Net zero targets:
Aims to balance the amount of greenhouse gases emitted with an equivalent amount removed from the atmosphere.

b. Bespoke emission reduction plans:
Customized plans designed to reduce an organization’s specific greenhouse gas emissions.

c. Renewable energy adoption:
The integration of renewable energy sources, like solar or wind power, to replace or supplement traditional energy sources.

d. Circular economy practices:
Strategies that prioritize the reuse, repair, and recycling of materials to minimize waste.

a. Emissions regulations:
Laws and rules set by governing bodies to limit and regulate the amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

b. Legislative requirements:
Mandatory measures established by government authorities to ensure adherence to environmental standards.

c. Reporting standards:
Specific guidelines and frameworks for reporting emissions data in a standardized manner.

a. Product companies:
Organizations involved in the manufacturing or production of physical goods.

b. Built environment companies:
Firms engaged in real estate development, construction, and infrastructure projects.

c. Manufacturing plants:
Facilities where raw materials are transformed into finished products.

d. Commercial real estate:
Properties used for business purposes such as offices, retail spaces, and industrial facilities.

a. Carbon intensity:
The amount of carbon emissions produced per unit of economic output.

b. Emission intensity:
The amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced per unit of activity or output.

c. Carbon footprint per unit of production:
The total greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of a specific quantity of goods or services.

a. API (Application Programming Interface):
A set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate and share data with each other.

b. Data connectors:
Software tools or modules that facilitate the transfer of data between different systems.

c. Automated data feeds:
Mechanisms that enable the automatic transfer of data from one system to another.

d. Data standardization:
The process of establishing uniform formats and structures for data to ensure consistency and compatibility.

a. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA):
A comprehensive analysis of the environmental impact of a product or service throughout its entire life cycle.

b. Carbon offsetting:
The practice of compensating for one’s own carbon emissions by investing in projects that reduce or capture an equivalent amount of emissions.

c. Environmental footprint:
The overall impact an organization has on the environment, considering various factors like energy use, water consumption, and waste generation.

d. Sustainable sourcing:
Procuring goods and materials in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

a. Energy consumption:
The amount of energy used by an organization for various activities, including production, heating, cooling, and lighting.

b. Waste management:
The practices and processes involved in handling, disposing of, or recycling waste generated by an organization.

c. Transportation emissions:
Greenhouse gas emissions produced by vehicles used for business purposes.

a. Sustainability reporting:
The practice of publicly disclosing an organizations environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance.

b. Environmental disclosure:
Communicating information about an organizations environmental practices, impacts, and performance.

c. Emission inventories:
Detailed records of an organizations greenhouse gas emissions, typically categorized by scope and source.