3emissies

3emissies is a Dutch-language term that appears mainly as a colloquial or informal way to refer to the three broad categories of greenhouse gas emissions that organizations track in sustainability reporting. It is not a formal standard in itself, but a shorthand used in discussions to distinguish different sources of emissions within a single accounting framework.

The three categories most commonly linked to the idea of 3emissies align with the widely used organization of emissions into direct and indirect groups. Direct emissions, often called Scope 1, originate from sources owned or controlled by the reporting entity (for example, fuel combustion in company vehicles or on-site boilers). Indirect emissions from purchased energy, or Scope 2, come from the generation of electricity, heat, or steam that the organization consumes. The remaining indirect emissions, Scope 3, cover a broader range of activities across the value chain, such as supplier activities, product use, transport, and end-of-life disposal.

In practice, 3emissies serves as a helpful frame for communicating where a company’s climate impact comes from and for setting reduction targets. However, measurements, especially for Scope 3, can be challenging due to data availability and methodological variations. The concept echoes the structure of the GHG Protocol’s Scope 1–3 framework, which provides more detailed guidance for calculating and reporting emissions.

See also: Emissions, greenhouse gases, GHG Protocol, Scope 1, Scope 2, Scope 3, CO2e.