Amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions sequestered by the organization during the reporting period.
Organizations should footnote all assumptions used, including detailed information on calculation methodology and source of data. See usage guidance for further information.
This metric is intended to capture the total amount of GHG emissions sequestered during the reporting period. Organizations should use this metric in combination with Greenhouse Gas Emissions Mitigation Types (OI9839) in order to disaggregate the types of GHG emissions sequestered that are relevant to the organization's activities. This metric refers to GHG emissions sequestered during the reporting period, not over the lifetime of trees or forestland, for example.
Greenhouse gas emissions are anthropogenic drivers of climate change, which alters species’ habitats. Species that cannot migrate or adapt become extinct, leading to worldwide decline in biodiversity and ecosystem services. Restoring carbon sinks such as forests and peatlands can help mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon.
Calculating GHG emissions sequestration is technical and requires standardized, precise methodological guidance. Organizations should refer to at least one of the following standards when calculating this metric: Verified Carbon Standard, Gold Standard, American Carbon Registry, AFOLU Carbon Calculator, Climate Action Reserve Standard, and Plan Vivo Standard. For tools that may be helpful in calculating this and related metrics, see the GHG Protocol Calculators (https://ghgprotocol.org/calculation-tools).
This metric is multi-dimensional with regard to the five dimensions of impact. In some contexts, this metric can serve as an indicator of whether the outcome being sought by an investor or organization is occurring (the WHAT dimension of impact). It may also help measure the HOW MUCH Scale dimension, which helps estimate the number of the targeted stakeholders experiencing the outcome. For more on the alignment of IRIS metrics to the five dimensions of impact, see IRIS+ and the Five Dimensions of Impact (https://iris.thegiin.org/document/iris-and-the-five-dimensions/). No single metric is sufficient to understand an impact; rather, metrics are selected as a set across all dimensions of impact. When possible, the selection of metrics to measure and describe the five dimensions should be based on best practice and evidence.
Metrics identified as "cross-category" are those that are relevant to any IRIS+ Impact Category or Impact Theme (i.e., these metrics are not specific to any particular industry/category or theme).
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Sequestered (PI9878) is required for Joint Impact Indicator: GHG Emissions Sequestration.
JII definition: Amount of GHG emissions sequestered during the reported period, measured in tons.
JII unit of measurement: t (CO2e)
June 2022 - IRIS v5.3 Released (current version)
Immaterial change. Minor revision to definition and usage guidance for clarity.
May 2021 - IRIS v5.2 Released
Immaterial change. Minor revision to Usage Guidance for clarity.
January 2020 - IRIS v5.1 Released
New metric. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Sequestered: Total (PI9878) was developed via the IRIS+ Sustainable Forestry Expert Subgroup.
IRIS Metrics Work Better in Sets
To use IRIS metrics—and the resulting data—to understand impact performance, IRIS metrics should be used and analyzed in generally accepted sets and according to well-defined objectives. IRIS+ gives you access to generally accepted Core Metrics Sets aligned to common Impact Themes and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).