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Definition

ISO 14064-2

ISO 14064-2:2019 sets requirements for quantifying, monitoring, documenting, and reporting the greenhouse gas emission reductions or removal enhancements achieved by a defined project against a baseline scenario.

What is ISO 14064-2?

ISO 14064-2:2019 is the current published second edition for project-level greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting. It covers projects that reduce emissions or increase removals against a likely no-project outcome. A source releases GHGs, a sink removes them and a reservoir stores them. Include each relevant one in the project and baseline, then monitor, calculate, document and report the result with data-quality controls.

Why does ISO 14064-2 matter to you?

A customer, funder or GHG programme may ask how you calculated a claimed project result. A company-wide inventory change is not enough. Show the likely outcome without the project, the emissions caused or avoided by it, the period and the records behind each figure.

How does ISO 14064-2 work?

Define the project, who will use the report and the rules they expect. Identify the same relevant sources, sinks and reservoirs for the project and baseline. Justify the baseline and calculate both cases consistently. Set a monitoring plan. Record activity data, factors, assumptions, changes and quality checks in the project report.

What mistakes should you avoid?

  • Choosing a baseline that assumes equipment or output unlike the credible no-project scenario.
  • Counting only the main site while omitting a source materially increased or decreased by the project.
  • Changing methods or factors between baseline and project figures without explaining and quantifying the effect.
  • Claiming certification or credits when no programme rule or validation and verification process supports that claim.

Is ISO 14064-2 the same as ISO 14064-1?

No. ISO 14064-1 covers an organization's GHG inventory. ISO 14064-2 measures the result of a defined project against a baseline. A project result should not be presented as the company's full inventory.

Does ISO 14064-2 create carbon credits?

No. ISO 14064-2 does not set a registry's rules. A registry or other programme can decide which projects qualify, how long reductions must last, who checks the result and when credits are issued. The standard alone does not issue a credit or guarantee buyer acceptance.

Example

Suppose a commercial printing company in New Zealand replaces a gas-fired drying process for the period 1 January to 31 December 2027. Its documented hypothetical baseline is 480 tCO2e. The new process produces 300 tCO2e, while added outsourced finishing and transport caused by the project produce 25 tCO2e.

Project emissions are 300 + 25 = 325 tCO2e. The reported reduction is 480 - 325 = 155 tCO2e, or 155 / 480 = 32.3% rounded to one decimal place. The company keeps 12 monthly energy records, the baseline justification, the factor register, transport records and its monitoring calculations.

These are stated hypothetical emissions inputs, not factors from Keslio's dataset. A real report must show how each baseline and project figure was quantified and whether any applicable GHG programme adds further rules.

Where it comes up

ISO 14064-2:2019 project planning, baseline, monitoring, quantification, reporting and data-quality requirementsISO 14064-2:2019 abstract and current-edition statusOfficial sourceISO 14064-3:2019 validation and verification of project GHG statementsISO 14064-3:2019 abstract and scopeOfficial source

Related terms

ISO 14064-3

ISO 14064-3:2019 sets requirements for verifying historical greenhouse gas statements and validating statements about expected future outcomes for an organization, project, or product.

GHG Protocol Project Protocol

The GHG Protocol Project Protocol sets rules for quantifying a mitigation project's greenhouse gas reductions against a justified forward-looking baseline that delivers the same product or service.

Emission factor

An emission factor converts a measured activity, such as kilowatt-hours of electricity or litres of fuel, into greenhouse gas emissions by stating the emissions released per unit of that activity.

Climate change mitigation (EU Taxonomy objective 1 / ESRS E1)

Climate change mitigation means cutting greenhouse gas emissions or increasing removals to limit warming, and it is the first EU Taxonomy environmental objective and a separate climate subtopic in ESRS E1.

Sources

Last verified 2026-08-20

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ISO 14064-2 Definition | Keslio