GHGAssertions

GHGAssertions is a framework and set of software tools intended to support the validation and assurance of greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories and related emissions reports. It provides a collection of assertion objects and testing primitives that can be used within sustainability data pipelines to verify data integrity, methodological adherence, and reporting readiness. The term is used across organizations and software platforms to denote a standardized approach to checking emissions calculations and related metadata.

The primary purpose of GHGAssertions is to help practitioners ensure that emissions data are complete, consistent, and reproducible, and that they conform to established standards such as the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064. Features typically include boundary and scope checks, verification of activity data against source records, validation of emission factors and calculation methods, data provenance tracking, completeness and temporal consistency tests, unit and format validation, and uncertainty or sensitivity checks. Many implementations also offer audit trails, reporting hooks, and integration with existing data governance frameworks.

Usage generally involves embedding assertion routines into data pipelines or audit workflows. Practitioners can write and execute tests that confirm expected emissions values for given periods, verify that changes to inputs propagate correctly, and generate evidence suitable for internal reviews or external assurance.

Limitations and considerations include dependence on the quality of underlying data and factors, the need for clearly defined conventions, and the risk of overconfidence if assertions are treated as substitutes for good governance. GHGAssertions complements, rather than replaces, comprehensive data management and expert review in carbon accounting. See also GHG Protocol, ISO 14064.