Scope 3 emissions

Scope 3 emissions are defined as indirect emissions (not included in scope 2) that occur in the value chain of the reporting company, including both upstream and downstream emissions.

Local Partnerships has been working with local authorities to help map the value chain and identify scope 3 emissions councils can and should be reporting on. Following several very successful virtual workshops recently, some patterns are emerging.

There are some obvious quick wins, including staff business travel, commuting, water, waste water and electricity transmission and distribution losses. Most of these are already included in the new, free to use, Greenhouse Gas Accounting Tool.

The next palpable targets concern waste, highways, facilities’ management and IT. These are areas where contract providers are often already measuring their Scope 1 and 2 emissions. There is also clear potential for some of these contracts to do things differently to reduce emissions.

Many of the other challenges we face are much more difficult, for example, taxi fleets and the grey fleet for care workers and other frontline staff. Often the individuals who are driving around to provide these services provide their own cars and they may often be on low and unstable incomes. Providing a fair transition will be key to unlocking these emissions reductions.

To understand more about your Scope 3 emissions and what you can do to reduce them then please contact ghgaccounting@localpartnerships.gov.uk,

Jo Wall
Strategic director, climate response
Jo.Wall@localpartnerships.gov.uk 07770 702 386