What are the best practices and tools for measuring and reducing your scope 3 emissions?

To identify your scope 3 categories, you need to map your value chain activities and determine which ones are relevant and significant for your company. You can use the guidance and tools provided by the GHG Protocol to help you with this process.

Best practices and tools for measuring and reducing Scope 3 emissions include: 1. Data Collection: Implement robust data collection systems to capture comprehensive supply chain emissions. 2. Engagement: Collaborate with suppliers and partners to assess and manage emissions collectively. 3. Lifecycle Assessments (LCA): Conduct LCAs to identify hotspots and prioritize reduction efforts. 4. Carbon Accounting Software: Utilize tools that facilitate accurate measurement and reporting of Scope 3 emissions. 1. Supplier Engagement Platforms: Platforms that help engage suppliers in emissions reduction strategies. These practices enable organizations to effectively measure, manage, and reduce their indirect emissions across the supply chain.

Reducing Scope 3 emissions in the oil and gas sector is important for the industry's efforts to mitigate its environmental impact and address climate change. Improving energy efficiency in operations and transportation. Implementing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. Encouraging the use of cleaner energy sources. Reducing flaring and venting of natural gas. Engaging in carbon offset programs. Promoting circular economy practices to reduce waste and emissions associated with equipment and materials. The oil and gas industry is under increasing pressure from regulators, investors, and the public to account for and reduce its Scope 3 emissions as part of its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

to identify your scope 3 emissions, conduct a life cycle assessment to understand the emissions across your product's entire lifecycle, from raw materials to disposal.

Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions based on Supply Chain activities/ assets not under your control. So has not found that focus to act upon as Scope 1 & 2. GHG Protocol (or ISO 14064-1) provide accounting standards for Scope 3 emissions. Analyse your supply chain activities, engage with stakeholders on sharing emissions data, analyse relevant/ significant activities to business interests and take actions accordingly - Technology or procurement preference per emissions abatement. Transparent communication about your sustainability initiatives will surely enhance reputation and support.

The most accurate way to calculate Scope 3 Category 1 emissions is to use supplier-specific data. This requires engaging your suppliers to collect that data and integrate it in your CCF calculation workflow. Some carbon accounting software providers allow you to streamline this process by sending intuitive data collection questionnaires to your suppliers. Engaging value chain stakeholders is also an immense opportunity to strengthen your relationship and drive innovation and collaboration, for example on decarbonisation projects (insetting).

one should also normalize collected data to account for variations in the scale of business operations, for example, revenue or production volume

Some of the action points for scope 3 emission reduction are- Supply Chain Optimization: Collaborate with suppliers to reduce emissions in the supply chain. Product Design: Innovate product design to reduce emissions, for instance, by using lighter materials, minimizing waste. Energy Efficiency: Implement energy-efficient practices across your operations. Transportation: Promote sustainable transportation methods for both your products and employees. Circular Economy: Move towards a circular economy by reusing, recycling, and reducing waste in your operations. Carbon Offsetting: If some emissions are challenging to eliminate, consider investing in high-quality carbon offset projects.

Dans certains secteurs d'activités le scope 3 est très largement majoritaire, voire il constitue la quasi totalité de l'empreinte carbone. Il est absolument indispensable de le prendre en compte.

Challenges in Measuring Scope 3 Emissions: Data Availability and Quality: Obtaining accurate and reliable data from third-party suppliers and partners can be a significant challenge. Suppliers may not have robust emissions data or may not be willing to disclose it. Scope and Boundaries: Defining the boundaries and categories of Scope 3 emissions can be complicated. Organizations need to determine what emissions sources to include and exclude, and this can vary depending on industry, region, and other factors. Data Standardization: There is a lack of standardization in reporting and measuring Scope 3 emissions. Different organizations may use different methodologies, making it difficult to compare and benchmark emissions data.

Measuring and reducing Scope 3 emissions presents a multifaceted challenge due to the complexities of tracking indirect emissions across the supply chain. Limitations often arise from data availability, especially for upstream activities, and the need for robust methodologies to accurately quantify these emissions. However, innovative approaches like collaboration with suppliers and leveraging technology can help overcome these challenges, paving the way for meaningful reductions in overall carbon footprint.

Scope and boundaries: Defining the scope and boundaries of scope 3 emissions can be challenging, as there are many categories and subcategories of emissions to consider. Some emissions may overlap with other scopes or be double-counted. Some emissions may be excluded or omitted due to materiality or feasibility reasons. Some emissions may be shared or allocated among multiple actors in the value chain.

Le scope 3a impliquant les fournisseurs, il est primordial d'intégrer cette dimension le plus en amont possible, et d'intégrer la dimension carbone aux appels d'offres.

La qualité des données est primordiale et ne doit jamais être perdue de vue. Il est indispensable d'estimer la qualité de chaque donnée, d'être conscient de son niveau. Toutefois la recherche d'une haute qualité (avec une incertitude faible) peut être extrêmement chronophage et freiner l'action. Des premières approches issues de tables de conversions (Ademe, Boavizta, ...) permettent de disposer de premiers jeux de données, des points de repères qui permettront d'établir une trajectoire à méthodologie constante. Ces données pourront ensuite être améliorées, affinées, voir recalculées pour permettre une comparaison fiable. L'objectif étant de ne pas freiner l'action.

Collaboration will be a key component of measuring your scope 3 emissions, so reach out to relevant stakeholders across your value chain early and often. Colleagues responsible for overseeing procurement and those sponsoring large or influential contracts at your company will be essential partners in measuring and reducing scope 3 emissions.