What is the difference between ISO 14064 and the GHG Protocol?

The GHG Protocol provides the accounting methodology (how to calculate emissions). ISO 14064 provides the standard for reporting and verification (how to present and verify the results). Most organisations use both: GHG Protocol for the accounting framework and ISO 14064 as the basis for external verification.

Is ISO 14064 certification mandatory?

ISO 14064 verification is voluntary for most companies. However, some regulations, procurement requirements (e.g., PPN 06/21), and voluntary commitments (e.g., SBTi) either require or strongly encourage third-party verification. Verification against ISO 14064 is the most widely recognised form of GHG assurance.

ISO 14064

ISO 14064 is an international standard for quantifying, monitoring, reporting, and verifying greenhouse gas emissions and removals at the organisation and project level.

What is ISO 14064?

ISO 14064 consists of three parts: Part 1 specifies requirements for designing, developing, managing, and reporting an organisation-level GHG inventory; Part 2 covers GHG project-level quantification, monitoring, and reporting; and Part 3 provides guidance on the validation and verification of GHG assertions.

Part 1 is the most commonly used and is broadly aligned with the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard. However, ISO 14064-1 goes further in some areas, such as requiring quantification of indirect emissions (equivalent to Scope 3) that are significant and for which the organisation has reliable data. It also provides a framework for third-party verification under Part 3.

Many organisations use the GHG Protocol as their primary accounting framework and ISO 14064 as the basis for third-party verification. The two standards are complementary rather than competing — an inventory prepared under the GHG Protocol can be verified against ISO 14064 requirements with minimal additional effort.

Practical Examples

A UK manufacturer prepares its annual GHG inventory following the GHG Protocol and engages a certification body to verify the inventory against ISO 14064-1, achieving an independent assurance statement.

A carbon offset project in reforestation uses ISO 14064-2 to quantify the carbon removals, which are then verified by an accredited third party before credits are issued.

A company seeking to meet supply chain requirements for verified emissions data engages an ISO 14064-3 accredited verifier to provide limited assurance over its Scope 1 and 2 inventory.

How Climatise Helps

Climatise produces audit-ready GHG inventories with the data lineage, methodology documentation, and uncertainty analysis needed to support ISO 14064-1 verification by accredited third parties.

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