Operational Boundaries
Defining what activities and emissions sources are included within each scope
Your Progress
Section 3 of 5What are Operational Boundaries?
Operational boundaries determine which activities and emissions sources are included within each GHG Protocol scope. This is crucial for ensuring comprehensive and consistent emissions accounting across organizations.
The GHG Protocol provides two main approaches for setting operational boundaries: activity-based and location-based. The choice depends on how your organization operates and what makes the most sense for your specific context.
Boundary Setting Guidelines
Choose boundaries that are relevant to your operations, complete in coverage, and consistent with your organizational boundaries. Be transparent about your choices and their rationale.
Interactive Scope Boundary Visualizer
Explore how different boundary approaches affect Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Select an approach and scope to see detailed examples and boundary definitions.
Key Considerations
- • Activity-based approach is more flexible for complex operations
- • Location-based approach is simpler for geographically focused organizations
- • Choose the approach that best represents your operational reality
- • Document your choice and be consistent over time