Understanding GHG Removals: A Path to Sustainability

What are GHG Removals?

Greenhouse gas (GHG) removals are processes that withdraw carbon dioxide and other gases from the atmosphere. The ISO 14064-1 standard defines this as the “withdrawal of GHG from the atmosphere by GHG sinks.”

Removals occur naturally through healthy forests and enriched soils. They can also result from technology, such as direct air capture, which pulls carbon straight out of the air, or biochar.

Why Include GHG Removals in Your Inventory?

Including removals in your GHG inventory gives you a clearer picture of your net emissions. It’s crucial to include removals in GHG reporting because it allows organisations to demonstrate their net climate impact more comprehensively.

This inclusion can support your claims toward net-zero or carbon neutrality, but only if done credibly. Both the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1 guidance allow for their inclusion under specific conditions. Generally, these standards state:

• Removals can be reported alongside emissions in your inventory.

• They must be transparently disclosed, including type, method, and quantification approach.

• Removals must be permanent, measurable, and additional (i.e., they wouldn’t have happened otherwise and not double counted).

  
  

How to Measure and Report GHG Removals

1. Identify the Removal Activity

Common examples include:

• Reforestation/afforestation

• Wetland restoration

• Soil carbon sequestration (via regenerative agriculture)

• Mangrove restoration

• Seagrass or kelp restoration

• Agroforestry or shelterbelt planting

• Compost or biochar application to soils

• Engineered removals like BECCS or DAC

  
  

2. Determine the Applicable Scope

Removals can occur within Scope 1 (direct control) or Scope 3 (value chain). If you are aligning with the SBTI (science-based targets initiative), check their sector-specific criteria, as removals cannot be used for emission reduction in some sectors.

3. Choose a Credible Methodology

Use IPCC guidelines or other recognised methodologies (e.g., Verra, Gold Standard) to calculate:

• Quantity of CO₂-equivalent removed

• Duration of carbon storage

• Risk of reversal (e.g., tree burning, soil degradation)

  
  

The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) provides guidance for measuring carbon once the size of the forest is known. We have developed lookup tables in Excel to calculate carbon.

Get in touch if you want us to walk you through them! Measuring Forest Carbon

The Ministry for Primary Industry (MPI) also has a program called "Maximising Forest Carbon." This program focuses on improving methods to measure, recognise, and reward carbon storage in both native and exotic forests.

It explores how forest management activities, such as silviculture and controlling browsing animals, can increase carbon storage in pre-1990 forests. This research may lead to updates in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to better account for such removals.

4. Report Transparently

Report emissions and removals separately in your GHG inventory and when marketing your progress. Avoid double-counting; you cannot sell them in the ETS and claim a reduction simultaneously.

Be upfront about uncertainties. Share your assumptions, keep your estimates conservative, and explain how you tested your data. Transparency builds trust. If you later sell stocks in the ETS, you must update your historical GHG statements.

5. Monitor

Implement a monitoring plan to ensure stored carbon remains sequestered. This might include ongoing surveillance and periodic sampling to verify sequestration levels.

Key Takeaways

• GHG removals are a valuable part of GHG reporting if you follow proper guidance.

• Both ISO 14064-1 and the GHG Protocol allow for their inclusion with caveats.

• To be credible, removals must be real, measurable, verifiable, and reported separately from emission reductions.

• Businesses aiming for net-zero must clearly define how removals contribute to their targets and back up claims with evidence.

  
  

Taking the Next Steps

As you consider your sustainability journey, remember that GHG removals play a crucial role. They not only enhance your reporting but also contribute to a healthier planet. If you’re ready to explore how to integrate these practices into your business, don’t hesitate to reach out.

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