Reporting on GHG Emissions: Implications and Benefits.

This thesis examines methodologies and best practices to measure, manage and report GHG emissions. The study will explore the importance of a comprehensive and transparent reporting to design an effective emission reduction strategy to meet global climate goals. The structure will be as follow: - 1st chapter analyses and describes both chemically and physically which are the main types of greenhouse gases and why they are so important in terms of sustainability reporting. - 2nd chapter focuses mainly on how sustainability reporting is treated at global level. A comparison among major standards, directives and principles between European Union and United States of America will provide an overview on the current state of reporting activity stressing the relevant differences. - 3rd chapter provides a further analysis on the GHG Protocol’s provisions relating to Scope 3 data collection, elaboration and disclosure. A step-by-step guidance is displayed giving insights on the structure and functioning process of the GHG Protocol’s databases. - 4th chapter contains the literature review on how, since 1990, governments and businesses have treated climate issues at reporting level and whether or not such activity has influenced business performances. Reporting advantages and reporting current State-of-Art will be the two chapter’s macro-themes. - 5th chapter relates to the empirical analysis. Conducted on a sample of 1.103 firms from the S&P 500 and STOXX EUROPE 600, variables such as Scope 1, Scope 2, Scope 3, GHG intensity and Bloomberg ESG Score have been used to determine whether or not Western market are effectively moving toward a Net-Zero economy. GHG emissions trend from 2017 to 2023 will be presented and potential drivers will be pointed out.