Environment

ISO 14064 Greenhouse gases

ISO 14064 is focused on identifying organisational boundaries, quantifying the emission and removal of GHGs to the atmosphere, and identifying activities for the management of GHGs. The standard helps organisations design and develop a GHG Inventory to manage, quantify and report the amount of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) that they emit into the atmosphere. The quantification of the GHG Inventory is important for organisations that wish to declare their GHG emissions for legal and social purposes. Verification of GHGs is essential for those organisations wishing to claim a ‘carbon neutral’ or similar status: the verified total is used to determine the amount of offsets required.

There is a consistently strong focus on the reduction of GHGs throughout the standard. The verification of GHGs compliments environmental management programmes such as ISO 14001. Quantification of GHGs has further benefits: it can help organisations to reduce costs and save resources.

The standard covers the following:

  • Determination of organisational and operational boundaries: the organisation determines the boundaries in which the GHGs will be quantified and the operations that will be included in that boundary
  • Quantification of GHG emissions and removals: the organisation identifies GHG sources and sinks; the methodology by which they are quantified; the selection and collection of GHG data; the emissions or removal factors to be applied and the calculation of the GHG emissions and removals
  • The documentation of GHG Inventory Components: the documentation of GHG emissions and removals; plans and projects to reduce or prevent GHG emissions; identification of the Base Year (the period covered by the inventory, and to which all successive inventories are to be compared); and identification of uncertainties in the inventory
  • GHG Inventory Quality Management: development and maintenance of processes to ensure that compliance to the requirements of ISO 14064 is achieved
  • Reporting of GHGs: the preparation of a report to facilitate verification, inform internal or external stakeholders and as requirements for particular GHG programmes

 

Certification Process

  • Contact us. We can visit you on site or send out an application form. Complete and return the form.
  • An auditor will be assigned to you and will make contact to discuss your needs and to go over the audit process.
  • Once your GHG Inventory report has been completed your auditor will complete a desktop review of the GHG systems and data (emissions inventory reports etc) as well as relevant consents and licences if applicable. The following data is assessed during the desktop review:
    • The completed VNZ application form
    • A GHG Inventory report which includes the items identified in Section 7.3 of ISO 14064.1:2006
    • A copy of your emissions inventory and details of who prepared this document.
    • This data is reviewed against the requirements of ISO 14064.1
  • There may be some findings and recommendations resulting from the Stage 1 audit; VNZ will document these in a report and forward a copy to you. A quotation for the onsite verification of your organisation’s GHG emissions to ISO 14064.1 will then be prepared. This will confirm the scope, verification criteria, objectives, materiality, and level of assurance of the GHG verification. The verification timeframe and costs will be included.
  • An onsite verification will take place at your organisation. A written audit/sampling plan will be confirmed with you prior to the audit. The audit includes a review of the location and identification of emissions sources and sinks; interviewing responsible management; tracing some emissions calculations back to the source information; and reviewing relevant policy, procedures, ongoing monitoring and previous verifications and reviews. A second report is generated; this will detail any conditions associated with the audit that are required to be completed.
  • Clearance of non-conformances raised at the audit. This may require an additional visit but it usually doesn't.
  • Once the audit process is complete, a verification statement relating to your GHG assertions will be drafted; this statement will be forwarded to you for review if requested. The verification statement is then issued, usually subject to accepting some standard terms and conditions. The verification statement will be made publically available through the JAS-ANZ website.
  • GHG Inventories are prepared on an annual basis; the same process will be used (Steps 2-7) for each inventory.

 

Further Information

To make an enquiry or request a quote please email info@verification.co.nz.

To make an application, please download and complete this form (ghg-application-form.pdf).