Market-based scope 2: wasting time shuffling attributes?

106° Tea Corner

Lunedì 15 Giugno ore 17:00

Tea Corner in English

Electricity generation accounts for roughly 25% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually, and therefore accurately measuring these emissions so that action can be taken to reduce them is essential for tackling climate change. 

The “market-based method”, which allows companies to buy green energy certificates and claim zero emissions from electricity use, has two problems:

1.      it is unlikely to increase the amount of renewable generation (or reduce emissions);

2.     it creates misleading statements if companies claim to have “consumed” only renewable power.

Although the GHG Protocol is currently revising its accounting guidance, the proposed changes do not resolve these problems.

In this situation there is the necessity to discuss and find solution about the critical aspect of the “market-based method”, in order to have a reliable accounting of the GHG emissions related to the electricity consumption.

The Tea Corner, which will be held on 15th June 2026 from 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. CET (30’) will be the opportunity to understand more about the Scope 2 “market-based method” issue, directly from the voice of Matthew Brander, Chair of Carbon Accounting at the University of Edinburgh’s Business School.

Matthew Brander holds the Chair of Carbon Accounting at the University of Edinburgh’s Business School. His current research focuses on the development of methods for corporate, product (life cycle assessment), project and policy-level greenhouse gas accounting.  He has particular interest in bioenergy, offsetting, electricity accounting, and greenhouse gas removal.

He has served as a member of several technical working groups for the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), and the Science Base Targets Initiative (SBTi).

Prior to joining the University of Edinburgh Matthew worked in carbon management and greenhouse gas assessment at the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Management, and at Ecometrica.