C
Carbon Accounting
The systematic process of measuring, recording, and reporting an organisation's greenhouse gas emissions — using recognised methodologies such as GHG Protocol and IPCC emission factors.
Carbon Footprint
The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organisation, product, or activity — expressed in CO2 equivalent (tCO2e). For companies, typically refers to Scope 1 + Scope 2, sometimes including Scope 3.
CCTS
Carbon Credit Trading Scheme — India's mandatory carbon market covering 9 industrial sectors including textiles. Companies that beat emission intensity targets earn tradable carbon credits; those that miss targets must buy credits or pay a financial penalty.
CO2 Equivalent (CO2e)
A universal unit for expressing all greenhouse gas emissions on a comparable basis — by multiplying each gas's quantity by its Global Warming Potential (GWP) relative to CO2.
CSRD
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive — EU law requiring large European companies to disclose sustainability data including value chain emissions. Cascades ESG data requirements to Indian suppliers of EU brands.
D
Decarbonisation
The process of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from operations toward zero — through energy efficiency, fuel switching, electrification, and renewable energy adoption.
Double Materiality
A CSRD-introduced concept requiring companies to assess both how sustainability issues affect the company financially (financial materiality) and how the company affects people and the environment (impact materiality).
E
Emission Factor
A coefficient that quantifies the greenhouse gas emissions released per unit of activity — such as kg CO2 per GJ of fuel burned or tCO2 per MWh of electricity consumed.
Emission Intensity
Greenhouse gas emissions expressed relative to a unit of economic or physical output — such as tCO₂e per tonne of product manufactured, per rupee of revenue, or per square metre of fabric produced.
ESRS
European Sustainability Reporting Standards — the technical standards underlying CSRD disclosure requirements. ESRS E1 (Climate Change) and ESRS E3 (Water) are most relevant for Indian manufacturers supplying EU buyers.
G
GHG Protocol
The GHG Protocol Corporate Standard is the world's most widely used greenhouse gas accounting framework, defining Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emission categories and calculation methodology.
Greenhouse Gas
Gases in the Earth's atmosphere that trap heat — including CO2, CH4, N2O, and fluorinated gases. Corporate GHG accounting covers the six gases defined by the Kyoto Protocol.
GRI
Global Reporting Initiative — the most widely used international framework for sustainability and ESG disclosure. GRI Standards cover environmental (300 series), social (400 series), and governance topics.
I
IPCC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change — the UN body that publishes the scientific basis for climate policy, including the emission factors used in GHG Protocol and BRSR carbon accounting.
ISO 14064
International standard for GHG accounting and verification at the organisational level. ISO 14064-1 covers inventory design; ISO 14064-3 covers verification. Compatible with GHG Protocol methodology.
S
SBTi
Science Based Targets initiative — a global framework enabling companies to set greenhouse gas reduction targets aligned with the 1.5°C pathway of the Paris Agreement.
Scope 1 Emissions
Direct greenhouse gas emissions from sources owned or controlled by the reporting organisation — including stationary combustion, mobile combustion, and fugitive emissions.
Scope 2 Emissions
Indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heat, or cooling consumed by the reporting organisation.
Scope 3 Emissions
All indirect greenhouse gas emissions in a company's value chain — both upstream (suppliers) and downstream (customers, product use, end-of-life) — not covered by Scope 1 or Scope 2.
SEBI ESG
SEBI's regulatory framework governing ESG disclosure for listed Indian companies — including BRSR filing requirements, BRSR Core assurance mandates, and ESG rating provider regulations.
Stationary Combustion
The burning of fuel in fixed equipment — such as boilers, furnaces, kilns, and generators — to produce heat, steam, or power. The primary Scope 1 emission source for most manufacturing facilities.
Sustainability Reporting
The disclosure of a company's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance data to stakeholders — through frameworks such as BRSR (India), GRI, CSRD (EU), or ISSB standards.