Scope 1 emissions
Scope 1 emissions are direct greenhouse gas emissions from sources owned or controlled by the reporting organization within its chosen organizational boundary. They commonly arise from stationary and mobile fuel combustion, industrial processes, and fugitive releases such as refrigerant leaks.
In simple terms
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol places an emission in Scope 1 when it occurs at a source the reporting company owns or controls under its selected consolidation approach. Typical sources include boilers, furnaces, company vehicles, chemical processes, and leaking refrigeration equipment. Purchased electricity is not Scope 1 because generation occurs at another entity’s source; that energy-related category is Scope 2. Other value-chain emissions outside owned or controlled sources generally fall in Scope 3.
Why it matters
Scope 1 separates emissions under direct operational control from indirect emissions. This helps an organization target equipment, fuels, maintenance, and processes it can change most directly. The classification depends on a clearly documented organizational boundary; the same physical source may be classified differently by organizations using different ownership or control arrangements.
Example
For example, natural gas burned in a company-controlled factory boiler creates Scope 1 emissions for that company. Electricity used by the same boiler’s controls is treated through Scope 2, while production of the purchased natural gas may appear in Scope 3 if included under the applicable boundary.
How it differs
Scope 2 emissions
Scope 1 covers direct emissions from owned or controlled sources; Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from generating purchased or acquired electricity, steam, heating, or cooling consumed by the organization.
Scope 3 emissions
Scope 1 covers direct emissions from owned or controlled sources; Scope 3 covers other indirect emissions across the reporting organization’s upstream and downstream value chain.