How 'Scope 4' emissions can help and hinder sustainability efforts

clock • 5 min read
How 'Scope 4' emissions can help and hinder sustainability efforts

Companies seeking to report 'avoided emissions' will need to tread carefully through the greenwash minefield

How do you measure something that never existed? Companies may soon be posing this Zen koan to address the emerging accounting concept called Scope 4. It refers to "avoided emissions" of the greenhouse...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Carbon Accounting

Corporate climate retreat? Our numbers tell a different story entirely
Carbon Accounting

Corporate climate retreat? Our numbers tell a different story entirely

Contrary to any prevailing narrative, the big picture is clear: corporate climate action is growing worldwide - writes David Kennedy, CEO of the Science-Based Targets initiative

David Kennedy, Science-Based Targets initiative
clock 14 August 2025 • 4 min read
'Disclosure dividend': Study shows how acting on climate data can deliver up to $21 for every $1 invested
Carbon Accounting

'Disclosure dividend': Study shows how acting on climate data can deliver up to $21 for every $1 invested

New CDP report details how companies that accurately report on their carbon emissions can unlock significant financial benefits

Amber Rolt
clock 06 August 2025 • 3 min read
'Progress will not be linear': Amazon confirms emissions rose last year, despite wave of clean tech milestones
Technology

'Progress will not be linear': Amazon confirms emissions rose last year, despite wave of clean tech milestones

Annual sustainability report reveals tech giant's total emissions rose six per cent in 2024, even as carbon intensity fell four per cent

James Murray
James Murray
clock 17 July 2025 • 3 min read