GHG Protocol reform: A new chapter for Carbon Accounting
The GHG Protocol is evolving, setting stricter standards for carbon accounting and low-carbon electricity. ENGIE teams are preparing to help clients navigate this transformative shift.
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by Pierre-Paul Del Tedesco - Article
- Publié le 20/01/2026
As decarbonization becomes the common thread running through global energy policies, the Greenhouse gas (GHG) Protocol, the leading global standard for carbon accounting is about to undergo a major evolution.
A reform that could redefine environmental reporting for thousands of companies and fundamentally transform how they purchase and value low-carbon electricity. At ENGIE International Supply & Energy Management, teams are already mobilized to anticipate this shift.
Understanding the GHG Protocol: The backbone of Carbon Accounting
Created in the early 2000s, the GHG Protocol has become the global benchmark for measuring greenhouse gas emissions.
Used by nearly all major corporations and directly referenced in the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) directive on non-financial reporting, it serves as the compass for calculating and disclosing emissions linked to business activities.
Carbon accounting under the GHG Protocol is structured around three scopes:
- Scope 1: Direct emissions (e.g., on-site combustion)
- Scope 2: Indirect emissions from electricity consumption
- Scope 3: Value-chain emissions (suppliers, transport, etc.)
Today, the entire protocol is under review, with several workstreams in progress. Among them, Scope 2, covering electricity consumption, is one of the most advanced areas of reform.
“The GHG Protocol is almost unavoidable, it applies to most large companies, including us and our clients. (…) The proposed changes could significantly alter how companies account for, purchase, and value low-carbon energy.”
– Pierre-Paul Del Tedesco, Head of Carbon Accounting & Steering at ENGIE International Supply & Energy Management
A reform with global reach
Launched in 1998 by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the GHG Protocol underpins the main international regulatory frameworks: the CSRD in Europe, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Climate Rule in the US, and the International Standards Sustainability Board (ISSB) standards globally.
The ongoing review, initiated in 2023, aims to harmonize these frameworks while strengthening the reliability and comparability of climate reporting.
This evolution raises the bar on transparency for companies committed to the energy transition.
For energy buyers, this means navigating increasing regulatory complexity. ENGIE supports clients at every step, from regulatory interpretation to operational implementation.
Scope 2: The granularity revolution
Until now, companies could claim “zero-emission” electricity consumption based on Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs), such as Guarantees of Origin in Europe.
The proposed reform introduces a major shift: a move toward hourly matching. In other words, to declare electricity as carbon-free, companies would need to prove that the energy was generated at the same time it was consumed.
“It’s a paradigm shift,” says Maarten Schockaert, Sustainability Regulation Advisor at ENGIE International Supply & Energy Management. “The proposed rules would make carbon accounting far more precise, but also more demanding. They fundamentally change the game by requiring a strict time-based match between clean energy production and consumption.”
These changes accelerate the transition toward 24/7 carbon-free electricity. ENGIE is already advancing on this path, developing solutions aligned with hourly, location-based energy matching.
Another anticipated evolution is geographic matching.
Today, a consumer in Belgium can offset electricity emissions by purchasing certificates from Norwegian hydropower.
In the future, certificates may need to originate from the same market zone where the consumption takes place.
“If adopted, these rules would profoundly reshape energy consumers’ practices and influence market prices,” adds Pierre-Paul Del Tedesco. “Some countries would see certificate values rise sharply, others decrease. ENGIE will need to adapt its offers to continue meeting client needs in a more localized, granular framework.”
As the rules evolve, ENGIE supports clients with clearer, time-aligned and region-specific sourcing models.
The objective: turn regulatory change into actionable, realistic decarbonization pathways.