Compliance with carbon accounting standards

GHG Protocol Scope 2 and 3 compliance

Electricity Maps direct emission factors correspond to GHG Protocol Scope 2 reporting. As necessary, reporting entities using Electricity Maps data for carbon accounting can isolate the exact delta between the life cycle and direct values to populate Scope 3 Category 3 (Fuel- and Energy-Related Activities) inventories natively, without introducing interpretive ambiguity or risking double-counting under Scope 2 boundaries.

ISO-14064 compliance

To ensure compliance with ISO 14064-1:2018 requirements, reporting entities can properly map Electricity Maps carbon intensity to their corresponding indirect greenhouse gas emission categories:

• Category 2: Indirect greenhouse gas emissions from imported energy: Organizations reporting grid electricity under Category 2 should utilize Electricity Maps Direct Carbon Intensity. This accounts solely for physical emissions occurring at the generation stack during power production, fully satisfying the location-based direct energy imports criteria.
• Category 4: Indirect greenhouse gas emissions from products used by an organization: Upstream emissions associated with fuel extraction, refining, transport, and power generation infrastructure fall under Category 4 (specifically upstream energy-related activities). Reporting entities can natively quantify these emissions by calculating the delta between the Electricity Maps Life Cycle Carbon Intensity and Direct Carbon Intensity. Alternatively, if an organization chooses to report its total energy-related footprint comprehensively within Category 4 under a complete life-cycle boundary, the full Life Cycle Carbon Intensity metric may be applied directly.

By applying this structured allocation, organizations maintain clear reporting boundaries, prevent the double-counting of operational versus upstream supply-chain emissions, and preserve full traceability during third-party ISO 14064-3 verification.

Summary

Electricity Maps carbon intensity to use per Carbon Accounting Standard

• GHG Protocol Scope 2: Direct Carbon Intensity
• GHG Protocol Scope 3: Delta between Life Cycle and Direct Carbon Intensity
• ISO 14064-1:2018 Category 2: Direct Carbon Intensity
• ISO 14064-1:2018 Category 4: Delta between Life Cycle and Direct Carbon Intensity