GHG Schemes

GHG Schemes

About ATS Ltd. GHG VV Scheme
Scope
The scheme covers:

• Types of GHG Assertions:

  • Organization-level GHG inventories: Validation/verification of GHG emissions and removals at the organizational level, aligned with ISO 14064-1.
  • Project-level GHG reductions/removals: Verification of GHG mitigation projects, including emission reductions and removals, per ISO 14064-2.
  • Product carbon footprints: Quantification and verification of GHG emissions associated with products, following ISO 14067.

Applicable Sectors:

  • General manufacturing (physical/chemical transformation of materials).
  • Agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU).
  • General services.

Geographical Coverage: Global applicability with sector-specific adaptations for regional regulations.

Alignment with Standards: Follows GHG Protocol, IPCC Guidelines, and UNFCCC methodologies for consistency and credibility.

Governance and Impartiality
ATS Ltd. ensures:

  • Legal and Operational Compliance: Registered under Egyptian Companies Law No. 159/1981 with registration number 173259.
  • Impartiality Management: Establish and maintain an Independent Impartiality Committee to review and mitigate conflicts of interest.
  • Scheme Documentation and Transparency: Publish and maintain publicly accessible scheme documents, including validation/verification procedures, sector-specific requirements, and complaints and appeals process.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrate market need and stakeholder support through industry consultations and regulatory alignment.

Validation and Verification Processes

  • Validation Process: For future GHG claims, including pre-engagement, planning, evidence gathering, review, decision, and reporting.
  • Verification Process: For historical GHG data, including pre-engagement, planning, evidence gathering, review, decision, and surveillance.
  • Sector-Specific Requirements: Detailed methodologies for AFOLU, manufacturing, and general services sectors.

Competence Requirements

  • General Requirements: GHG Lead Auditor certifications, minimum 3 years of experience in GHG accounting, validation, or verification, and continuous training.
  • Sector-Specific Expertise: Knowledge in IPCC methodologies, GHG Protocol, and sector-specific standards.
  • Validation/Verification Team Composition: Teams must include a lead auditor, technical expert, and independent reviewer.

Documentation and Transparency

  • Public Documentation: Scheme rules, validation/verification procedures, sector-specific annexes, complaints and appeals process, and mark usage guidelines.
  • Record Retention: All records, including validation/verification statements, audit reports, and corrective actions, shall be retained for 10 years.
  • Confidentiality: Protection of client-specific data, with exceptions for legal obligations or accreditation body requests.
  • Transparency Measures: Maintain a publicly accessible register of all validated/verified claims and mark holders and publish annual summaries of scheme performance.

Use of Marks

  • Eligibility: The “ATS Verified GHG” mark may only be used with a valid validation/verification statement issued by an EGAC-accredited CAB.
  • Format and Visibility: The mark must include the EGAC accreditation number, validity period, and CAB identification.
  • Legal Protection: Trademark registration in key jurisdictions, with penalties for misuse including cease-and-desist orders, fines, and public disclosure of violations.
  • Surveillance of Mark Usage: CABs must verify correct mark usage during surveillance audits and report misuse to ATS Ltd. and EGAC.

Maintenance and Updates

  • Periodic Review: Full review of the scheme every 3 years.
  • Triggers for Updates: Regulatory changes, standard revisions, stakeholder feedback, and market needs.
  • Update Implementation Process: Drafting, consultation, approval, and notification processes.
  • Transition Periods: Defined periods for CABs and clients to adapt to revised requirements.

Complaints and Appeals

  • Complaints Process: Submission, acknowledgment, investigation, and resolution steps.
  • Appeals Process: Submission, review, and decision steps.
  • Key Principles: Non-discrimination, confidentiality, and impartiality.
  • Record-Keeping: All complaints, appeals, and resolutions archived for 10 years, with anonymized summaries published annually.