Key Answers on where to start with validating your carbon emissions.

Before engaging GHG verification services, organizations must understand verification requirements and their emissions profile. Speeki helps you understand the difference between limited assurance (providing moderate confidence through analytical procedures and inquiry) and reasonable assurance (providing high confidence through detailed testing and substantive procedures), guiding appropriate assurance level selection based on regulatory requirements, stakeholder expectations, materiality of emissions, and cost-benefit considerations. We help you determine verification scope—whether to verify Scope 1 and 2 emissions only (mandatory under many regulations) or include Scope 3 value chain emissions (increasingly expected by investors and essential for science-based targets), whether to verify organizational-level inventory or facility-specific emissions, and what reporting period and organizational boundaries apply. The getting started phase includes reviewing your GHG inventory methodology to ensure alignment with ISO 14064-1 or GHG Protocol requirements before verification begins, identifying potential data gaps or methodology issues that could complicate verification, understanding materiality thresholds and how errors or uncertainties affect verification outcomes, and establishing realistic timelines considering data availability, audit scheduling, and disclosure deadlines. For organizations seeking carbon project validation under ISO 14064-2, getting started involves understanding additionality requirements (proving emission reductions wouldn't occur without the project), baseline scenario development, quantification methodology selection, monitoring plan design, and validation timing (occurring before project implementation to establish credibility).

We help you understand what documentation verifiers require (activity data, emission factors, calculation methodologies, quality assurance procedures, organizational charts, consolidation approaches, Scope 3 screening and calculations), what verification involves (document review, data testing, site visits, personnel interviews, recalculations), and what verification statements provide (assurance opinion, materiality assessment, findings, recommendations).

Understanding these fundamentals before verification engagement prevents delays, reduces verification costs through better preparation, and increases verification success rates.

Effective GHG verification requires organizational capability to quantify emissions accurately, maintain robust documentation, and understand verification expectations.

Speeki delivers GHG accounting and verification readiness training covering greenhouse gas fundamentals (climate science basics, emissions sources, global warming potentials, carbon cycle concepts), GHG accounting principles including the five principles from ISO 14064-1 and GHG Protocol (relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy), organizational boundary setting (equity share, financial control, operational control approaches), scope definitions and source categorization (Scope 1 direct emissions, Scope 2 purchased electricity and energy, Scope 3 value chain emissions across 15 categories), emission quantification methodologies (calculation-based, measurement-based, hybrid approaches), emission factors and activity data (selecting appropriate factors, collecting reliable activity data, documenting data sources and quality), uncertainty assessment, and verification preparation.

Training is tailored to different roles: finance and data teams collecting activity data and maintaining GHG accounting systems, sustainability teams preparing GHG inventories and managing verification processes, operational personnel understanding emission sources and improvement opportunities, and executives understanding climate disclosure obligations and governance responsibilities.

We provide sector-specific training recognizing that GHG accounting complexity varies dramatically across industries—manufacturing organizations focus on process emissions and energy consumption, logistics companies emphasize transportation emissions and supply chain Scope 3, financial institutions address financed emissions in investment portfolios, and real estate companies manage building energy use and tenant emissions.

Training includes practical exercises calculating emissions from actual organizational data, understanding common verification findings and how to prevent them, preparing documentation that satisfies verifier requirements, and responding to verification inquiries effectively.

For organizations pursuing carbon project validation, training covers additionality demonstration, baseline scenario development, quantification methodology selection from recognized standards monitoring plan design, and validation preparation.

Training builds internal capability enabling efficient verification processes, reduces verification costs through better preparation and fewer findings requiring resolution, and establishes organizational competence in GHG management beyond mere compliance with disclosure requirements.

The application phase involves preparing your GHG inventory or carbon project documentation for independent verification.

For organizational GHG inventories, this includes establishing or refining organizational boundaries and consolidation approaches (determining which entities to include, which boundary setting approach to use), conducting comprehensive Scope 1 and 2 emissions quantification (identifying all emission sources, collecting activity data, selecting appropriate emission factors, calculating emissions, documenting methodologies and assumptions), screening and quantifying material Scope 3 emissions (assessing which of 15 categories are material, prioritizing significant categories for detailed calculation, using spend-based, activity-based, or supplier-specific approaches), documenting data management systems and quality assurance procedures, assessing uncertainty in emission calculations, and preparing the GHG inventory report with all required disclosures under ISO 14064-1 or GHG Protocol including description of organization and boundaries, reporting period, emissions summary by scope and source category, methodologies and emission factors used, data quality assessment, and any exclusions or special circumstances.

Organizations should establish data collection and calculation processes that can be sustained annually, implement internal quality assurance reviewing calculations before verification, maintain comprehensive documentation trails from source data through final emission totals, and establish organizational governance ensuring appropriate oversight of GHG accounting.

For carbon projects seeking validation under ISO 14064-2, application involves developing the project description (location, technology, implementation timeline, responsible parties), demonstrating additionality through investment analysis or barrier analysis proving emission reductions wouldn't occur in baseline scenario, quantifying baseline emissions using conservative assumptions, quantifying project emissions and calculating net emission reductions, designing monitoring plans specifying how emission reductions will be measured and verified post-implementation, assessing leakage (emission increases outside project boundary resulting from project activities), and preparing comprehensive project documentation.

Application phase preparation directly determines verification efficiency and success—well-prepared inventories with robust documentation, transparent methodologies, and comprehensive quality assurance undergo smooth verification processes with minimal findings, while poorly prepared inventories with data gaps, methodology inconsistencies, and inadequate documentation face extended verification timelines, significant findings requiring remediation, and potential qualification of verification opinions reducing disclosure credibility.

Before formal verification engagement, Speeki offers readiness assessments identifying potential issues that could delay verification or result in qualified opinions.

Our readiness assessment reviews your GHG inventory documentation for completeness (all required disclosures present, methodologies documented, assumptions explained, data sources identified), examines organizational boundary setting and consolidation approach for consistency with stated methodology, reviews emission quantification methodologies for alignment with ISO 14064-1 or GHG Protocol requirements, tests calculation accuracy through sample recalculations, assesses data quality and reliability of activity data and emission factors, evaluates Scope 3 screening methodology and materiality assessment, examines uncertainty quantification approaches, and identifies any methodology inconsistencies, data gaps, or documentation deficiencies requiring remediation before verification.

The readiness assessment provides a preliminary materiality evaluation identifying whether any errors or uncertainties could be material to the overall inventory affecting verification opinion, reviews prior year inventories (if applicable) identifying any base year recalculation requirements or consistency issues, and examines whether any unusual circumstances (mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, methodology changes, new emission sources) are appropriately disclosed and accounted for.

For carbon projects, readiness assessment examines additionality demonstration credibility, baseline scenario conservativeness and defensibility, quantification methodology appropriateness, monitoring plan feasibility, and documentation completeness.

Readiness assessment typically occurs 4-8 weeks before planned verification engagement, allowing time to address identified issues without impacting disclosure deadlines. Organizations benefit from readiness assessment by identifying and resolving issues before formal verification begins (avoiding costly verification delays and re-engagements), receiving advance indication of likely verification outcome and any potential qualifications, and gaining confidence that verification will proceed efficiently.

While readiness assessment is optional, it significantly reduces verification risk particularly for organizations undergoing first-time verification, implementing significant methodology changes, adding new emission sources or scopes, or facing tight disclosure deadlines where verification delays would be highly problematic.

Most organizations require annual GHG verification supporting mandatory climate disclosures, voluntary sustainability reporting, science-based target tracking, or carbon neutrality claims.

Speeki provides ongoing verification services enabling efficient annual assurance through verifier familiarity with organizational operations, data systems, and emission sources developed through prior engagements. Annual verification efficiency improves over time as data management systems mature, methodology consistency is established, internal quality assurance strengthens, and both organization and verifier develop shared understanding of emission profile and accounting approaches.

Ongoing verification examines whether base year recalculations are required due to organizational changes (mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, changes in consolidation approach), methodology changes, or discovery of significant errors; verifies that current year inventory maintains consistency with prior years unless changes are appropriately disclosed and justified; identifies emission trends and anomalies requiring explanation; and assesses whether emissions performance aligns with stated targets or commitments.

Organizations should implement continuous improvement in GHG accounting based on verification findings and recommendations, enhancing data quality (moving from spend-based to activity-based Scope 3 estimates, replacing generic emission factors with supplier-specific data), expanding Scope 3 coverage as capabilities improve, strengthening internal quality assurance preventing recurring findings, and enhancing disclosure transparency responding to evolving stakeholder expectations.

GHG verification timing depends on inventory complexity, organizational size, number of facilities, Scope 3 coverage, data quality, and assurance level.

Limited assurance verification of straightforward organizational inventories covering Scope 1 and 2 emissions typically requires 2-4 weeks including planning, documentation review, data testing, site visits (if applicable), and reporting.

Reasonable assurance verification requires 4-8 weeks given more extensive substantive procedures and detailed testing. Complex organizational inventories with numerous facilities, diverse emission sources, extensive Scope 3 coverage across multiple categories, and first-time verification may require 8-12 weeks or longer.

Organizations should schedule verification allowing sufficient time before disclosure deadlines—regulatory filings often have fixed deadlines, investor reporting aligns with annual report publication, and sustainability report timing may be flexible but should maintain consistency year-over-year. Verification should begin only after GHG inventory is complete, calculations are finalized, internal quality assurance is performed, and supporting documentation is compiled; premature verification engagement when data is incomplete or calculations are preliminary creates inefficiencies and extends timelines.

Organizations with calendar year reporting periods typically conduct verification in Q1 (January-March) after calendar year activity data is finalized, with verification statements issued in March-April supporting annual reports, proxy statements, or regulatory filings due in April-May.

Organizations should consider scheduling verification before peak periods (many organizations verify Q1 inventories creating verifier capacity constraints) or building additional timeline buffer if verification will occur during high-demand periods.

As an independent verification body, Speeki maintains strict separation between implementation consulting and verification services to ensure independence and credibility.

We do not provide GHG accounting consulting, inventory preparation services, methodology selection advice, or emission reduction recommendations that would compromise our ability to independently verify your GHG statements.

However, Speeki provides comprehensive training and technology resources enabling organizations to successfully prepare GHG inventories and carbon projects for independent verification.

Speeki delivers GHG accounting training covering ISO 14064-1 and GHG Protocol requirements, organizational boundary setting and consolidation approaches, Scope 1, 2, and 3 quantification methodologies, emission factor selection and activity data collection, uncertainty assessment, and verification preparation.

Our training is educational—teaching how GHG accounting works, what verification requires, and what methodologies exist—rather than prescriptive consulting directing your specific approach.

Training includes sector-specific content recognizing different GHG accounting challenges across industries (process emissions in manufacturing, transportation emissions in logistics, fugitive emissions in oil and gas, agricultural emissions in food and agriculture, financed emissions in financial services, building emissions in real estate). We offer various training formats including public courses open to all organizations, private courses for your team, virtual training options, and train-the-trainer programs building internal GHG accounting expertise. Training topics include common verification findings and how to prevent them, documentation requirements satisfying verifier expectations, responding effectively to verification inquiries, and maintaining data quality assurance processes.

Speeki's Engage® technology platform provides powerful GHG accounting and verification preparation tools. Engage® enables systematic activity data collection across organizational locations and emission sources, emissions calculation using built-in emission factor libraries and custom factors, Scope 3 screening and quantification, uncertainty assessment, documentation management maintaining audit trails from source data through final calculations, verification preparation organizing documentation verifiers require, and performance tracking over time.

The platform structures GHG accounting aligned with ISO 14064-1 and GHG Protocol requirements, maintains documentation accessible during verification, supports internal quality assurance through calculation checks and validation rules, and facilitates efficient verification through organized data presentation.

Engage® is designed for verification preparation—providing structure and calculation tools—without providing prescriptive consulting that would compromise verifier independence.

Organizations can use Engage® independently or work with third-party consultants for inventory development support, then engage Speeki solely for independent verification services.

This clear separation ensures verification independence, maintains stakeholder confidence in verification opinions, and provides assurance that verified GHG statements represent genuinely independent third-party assessment rather than verification of verifier's own work, which would fundamentally undermine verification credibility and value.

GHG verification costs vary based on organizational size, inventory complexity, number of facilities, Scope 3 coverage, data quality, and assurance level. Verification investment includes: training costs (typically USD 3,000-10,000 depending on number of participants, customization, and delivery format); Engage® platform subscription for GHG accounting and verification preparation (pricing varies by organization size and usage); and verification engagement fees. Limited assurance verification fees typically range USD 8,000-25,000 for small to medium-sized organizations with straightforward Scope 1 and 2 inventories covering single or few facilities. Reasonable assurance verification fees range USD 15,000-50,000 given more extensive procedures required. Large organizations with numerous facilities, complex operations, and comprehensive Scope 3 coverage may invest USD 50,000-150,000+ for reasonable assurance verification. Verification costs increase with Scope 3 complexity—basic Scope 3 screening adding modest cost, while detailed quantification across multiple categories with supplier-specific data requires significantly more verification effort. First-time verification typically costs more than ongoing annual verification due to initial learning curve understanding organizational operations and establishing verification approach; subsequent years benefit from efficiency as verifier familiarity and data system maturity improve. Organizations should budget beyond direct verification fees for internal resources (staff time collecting data, preparing documentation, responding to verification inquiries, participating in site visits and interviews), potential data system investments or improvements addressing verification findings, and any consultant support for inventory preparation (if using third-party consultants separate from the verifier). Carbon project validation and verification costs depend on project type, size, complexity, and applicable standards, typically ranging USD 15,000-100,000+ for validation and USD 10,000-75,000+ for periodic verification depending on project scale and emission reduction quantification complexity. While verification represents significant annual expense, it delivers essential returns including regulatory compliance (satisfying mandatory disclosure requirements avoiding penalties), investor confidence (providing verified data investors require for climate risk assessment and ESG integration), access to sustainable finance (sustainability-linked loans and green bonds requiring verified emissions and targets), enhanced credibility (verified emissions supporting carbon neutrality claims, science-based targets, and climate commitments), and operational insights (verification findings identifying data quality improvements and emission reduction opportunities). Organizations can optimize verification costs by improving data quality and documentation reducing verification effort, maintaining consistent methodologies year-over-year avoiding base year recalculation complexities, implementing robust internal quality assurance preventing recurring findings, scheduling verification during lower-demand periods potentially enabling better pricing, and establishing ongoing verification relationships providing efficiency gains over time. Speeki offers transparent pricing aligned with verification scope, effort, and complexity, ensuring verification investment delivers credible third-party assurance that stakeholders trust and regulatory requirements accept while maintaining cost-effectiveness for organizations committed to climate disclosure transparency and accountability.