GHG Protocol: Scope 1 Emissions
I. Definition
Scope 1 emissions are direct greenhouse gas emissions from sources that a company owns or controls, as defined by the GHG Protocol.
They come from activities where fuel is burned or gases are released directly by the company.
In simple terms: if the company causes the emission itself, it is Scope 1.
Typical examples include fuel used in company vehicles, boilers, furnaces, or emissions from industrial processes.
II. Context
The GHG Protocol divides emissions into three categories to make carbon accounting clear and comparable.
Scope 1 emissions are the first and most direct category.
They include emissions from stationary combustion (like gas boilers), mobile combustion (company cars, trucks), and process emissions from manufacturing.
They also include fugitive emissions, such as refrigerant leaks.
Because Scope 1 emissions are under direct control, they are usually the easiest to measure.
Data often comes from fuel invoices, meters, or operational records.
Many regulations and reporting frameworks start with Scope 1 emissions because they show the company’s immediate climate impact.
III. Why it matters
At Orizscore, we see Scope 1 emissions as the base layer of climate credibility.
If a company cannot prove its direct emissions, nothing else can be trusted.
The challenge is not knowing that emissions exist.
The challenge is measuring them precisely and documenting the method.
Are fuel data complete?
Are emission factors correct?
Can calculations be audited?
Reliable Scope 1 emissions data is the first proof of seriousness in climate reporting.
It turns environmental impact into measurable, verifiable information.
IV. Related terms
- GHG Protocol: Corporate Standard
https://www.orizscore.com/blogs/ghg-protocol-corporate-standard - Scope 2 Emissions
https://www.orizscore.com/blogs/ghg-protocol-scope-2-emissions - Scope 3 Emissions
https://www.orizscore.com/blogs/ghg-protocol-scope-3-emissions
V. Example
A logistics company owns a fleet of delivery trucks.
The diesel burned by these trucks produces CO₂ emissions.
Under the GHG Protocol, these emissions are classified as Scope 1 emissions because the company controls the vehicles.
The company calculates emissions using fuel consumption data and emission factors.
By tracking this data every year, the company can reduce fuel use, switch to cleaner vehicles, and prove real emission reductions.
