Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Carbon Footprinting

Programme Summary

Build a defensible organisational greenhouse gas inventory from defined boundaries and traceable activity data. Participants classify emission sources, select suitable factors and calculate emissions while documenting assumptions, exclusions and uncertainty. Structured spreadsheet exercises cover direct emissions, purchased energy and value chain screening, enabling teams to improve inventory quality and communicate results without confusing organisational accounting with product footprints or carbon neutrality.

Training Objectives

1 Develop disciplined organisational greenhouse gas accounting; 2 Clarify inventory boundaries and emission classifications; 3 Improve activity data and factor selection; 4 Strengthen calculation transparency and quality controls; 5 Support credible inventory reporting and improvement.

Learning Outcomes

1 Define organisational and reporting inventory boundaries; 2 Classify sources across relevant emission scopes; 3 Calculate emissions using supplied activity data; 4 Identify uncertainty omissions and data quality gaps; 5 Prepare an inventory summary with traceable assumptions.

Target Audience

Sustainability Analysts; Environmental Officers; Energy Managers; Finance Analysts; Supply Chain Analysts; Carbon Inventory Coordinators.

Target Industries

Manufacturing; Logistics; Commercial Real Estate; Utilities; Food Production; Retail Supply Chains.

Course Contents

• Module 1 Accounting Purpose and Inventory Principles: Organisational inventories versus product footprints; Relevance completeness consistency transparency and accuracy; Selecting reporting criteria and intended users.
• Module 2 Organisational Boundaries and Consolidation: Equity share and control approaches; Facilities joint operations and leased assets; Documenting boundary decisions and reporting periods.
• Module 3 Emission Sources and Scope Classification: Direct combustion process and fugitive sources; Purchased electricity heat steam and cooling; Upstream and downstream value chain activities.
• Module 4 Activity Data and Evidence Collection: Meters invoices purchasing and operational records; Data ownership units and collection frequency; Missing data estimates and evidence retention.
• Module 5 Emission Factors and Calculation Methods: Factor geography technology vintage and units; Global warming potentials and gas conversions; Matching calculation methods to source characteristics.
• Module 6 Direct Emissions Calculation Workshop: Fuel combustion and unit conversion calculations; Refrigerant loss records and emission estimates; Separate reporting of relevant biogenic emissions.
• Module 7 Purchased Energy Accounting: Location based factors and reporting; Market based evidence where criteria apply; Preventing unsupported zero emission electricity claims.
• Module 8 Value Chain Screening and Prioritisation: Category relevance and screening estimates; Supplier activity and expenditure data approaches; Improving significant categories and documenting exclusions.
• Module 9 Base Years and Inventory Changes: Base year selection and recalculation policy; Structural changes methodology updates and corrections; Separating genuine reductions from boundary changes.
• Module 10 Quality Controls and Uncertainty: Calculation review and source data checks; Estimation uncertainty and sensitivity priorities; Avoiding double counting within inventory boundaries.
• Module 11 Inventory Reporting and Improvement: Gross emissions and separate removals information; Transparent methods exclusions and limitation statements; Data improvement plans and review evidence.
• Module 12 Organisational Inventory Case: Calculating a bounded fictional inventory; Reconciling totals and explaining key assumptions; Presenting data quality and improvement priorities.

Assessment

• 60 single best answer questions, including applied scenarios; one mark per question.
• 90 minute invigilated digital examination with identity verification. Approved accessibility adjustments preserve the assessed competence.
• Supplied reference pack and calculator permitted; external internet and AI prohibited.
• Individual applied assessment (45 minutes): Complete a supplied organisational inventory workbook, classify sources, calculate emissions, check factor and unit consistency, and explain two data limitations with a targeted improvement plan.
• Assessment criteria: Correct boundaries scopes and emission calculations; Traceable factor choices assumptions and evidence; Clear limitations and relevant data improvements.
• Pass each component separately: 45/60 written marks (75%) and at least 70% on the applied task.
• All mandatory criteria must pass: Do not conceal material sources or deduct offsets from reported gross emissions.
• Individual results and feedback are provided. One reassessment may follow coaching under the published enrolment terms.

Certification

• Successful learners receive a TQCSI Arabia digital Certificate of Successful Completion.
• The certificate records the learner name, exact programme title, teaching hours, completion date and unique verification reference.
• Verified identity, full attendance and separate written and applied passes are required; all mandatory critical criteria must be met.
• Proposed issue target: within 30 calendar days of approved results and settlement of applicable fees.
• Records organisational carbon accounting course achievement; it does not confer greenhouse gas verifier status or certify an inventory, product footprint or neutrality claim.
• Attendance confirmation may record completed hours for unsuccessful learners; it does not certify successful completion.

Programme Profile

Number of daysNumber of daysNumber of days

333

Total teaching hoursTotal teaching hoursTotal teaching hours

18 hours; breaks, pre course work and formal final assessments excluded.18 hours; breaks, pre course work and formal final assessments excluded.18 hours; breaks, pre course work and formal final assessments excluded.

Delegates allowedDelegates allowedDelegates allowed

Maximum 16 delegates.Maximum 16 delegates.Maximum 16 delegates.

Training prerequisitesTraining prerequisitesTraining prerequisites

Basic numeracy and spreadsheet skills are required. Familiarity with organisational energy, purchasing or operational data is recommended; prior carbon accounting experience is not required.Basic numeracy and spreadsheet skills are required. Familiarity with organisational energy, purchasing or operational data is recommended; prior carbon accounting experience is not required.Basic numeracy and spreadsheet skills are required. Familiarity with organisational energy, purchasing or operational data is recommended; prior carbon accounting experience is not required.

Pre course assignment and assessmentPre course assignment and assessmentPre course assignment and assessment

Complete a 30 minute units and emissions diagnostic and review a fictional organisation chart with activity records.Complete a 30 minute units and emissions diagnostic and review a fictional organisation chart with activity records.Complete a 30 minute units and emissions diagnostic and review a fictional organisation chart with activity records.

End of course assessmentEnd of course assessmentEnd of course assessment

60 question written exam (90 minutes) and individual applied task (45 minutes).60 question written exam (90 minutes) and individual applied task (45 minutes).60 question written exam (90 minutes) and individual applied task (45 minutes).

Passing criteriaPassing criteriaPassing criteria

75% written and 70% applied, passed separately; full attendance. All mandatory criteria must pass.75% written and 70% applied, passed separately; full attendance. All mandatory criteria must pass.75% written and 70% applied, passed separately; full attendance. All mandatory criteria must pass.