What are Scope 1 2 3 Emissions in the UK and How to Mitigate Them.

jonnyjetsetter
Jan 20
2 min read

In the UK (and globally), Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions are categories used in carbon accounting under the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol. They help organisations understand where their emissions come from and how to reduce them.

Scope 1: Direct emissions (you control them)

What they are: Emissions from sources owned or controlled by your organisation.

Boilers used to heat offices or factories
Company-owned vehicles (petrol/diesel vans, cars, HGVs)
On-site fuel combustion (e.g. generators)
Refrigerant leaks from air conditioning systems

Why they matter in the UK

Natural gas is still widely used for heating
Transport is the largest emitting sector in the UK

How to mitigate Scope 1

Replace gas boilers
Install solar panels
Electrify company vehicle fleets (EVs)
Improve building insulation and energy efficiency
Switch to low-global-warming-potential refrigerants
Reduce fuel use through route planning and telematics

Scope 2: Indirect energy emissions (you buy the energy)

What they are: Emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, heat, steam, or cooling that you consume.

UK examples

Electricity used in offices, warehouses, data centres
Purchased district heating

Why they matter in the UK

UK electricity is getting cleaner, but fossil fuels are still part of the grid
Electricity demand will rise with electrification (EVs, heat pumps)

How to mitigate Scope 2

Switch to 100% renewable electricity tariffs
Install on-site renewables (solar PV, wind where viable)
Improve energy efficiency (LED lighting, smart controls)
Reduce peak electricity demand
Use energy storage where appropriate

Scope 3: Value chain emissions (often the biggest)

What they are: All other indirect emissions that occur in your supply chain and product lifecycle.

UK examples

Purchased goods and services
Business travel (flights, trains, taxis)
Employee commuting
Waste disposal
Transport and distribution
Use of sold products
End-of-life treatment of products

Why they matter in the UK

Often 70–90% of total emissions
Increasingly required by investors, regulators, and large UK clients
Central to net-zero strategies

How to mitigate Scope 3

Work with suppliers to reduce their emissions
Buy low-carbon materials and services
Reduce business travel; prioritise rail over flights
Encourage remote and hybrid working
Design products for durability, repair, and recycling
Reduce packaging and waste
Introduce supplier sustainability requirements

UK policy and reporting context

Required for many organisations under SECR (Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting)
Aligns with UK Net Zero by 2050
Scope 3 is not always mandatory, but strongly expected by investors and large customers
Often linked to Science Based Targets (SBTi)