Emission Boundaries Configuration

Establish the foundation for accurate carbon accounting. NetNada's Emission Boundaries feature defines which organisational units, activities, and emission sources are included in your carbon inventory—aligned with GHG Protocol standards.

How It Works

Emission Boundaries establishes the scope and parameters for your carbon accounting. By defining what's included (and excluded), you ensure consistent, auditable reporting that meets regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations.

1

Define Organisational Structure

Name and configure your boundary with clear identification. Establish the legal structure and hierarchical relationships between nodes (facilities, business units, regions). Select your consolidation approach—Operational Control is the default and most common method.

2

Configure Scope 1 Sources

Define direct emission sources under your operational control. Configure stationary combustion (boilers, generators, furnaces) and mobile combustion (company vehicles, fleet) at the facility level. Specify which nodes have each source type.

3

Configure Scope 2 Requirements

Define purchased energy sources for each facility. Specify requirements for electricity, heat, steam, and cooling from third parties. The system supports both Location-Based and Market-Based accounting methodologies.

4

Map Scope 3 Categories

Select which of the 15 GHG Protocol Scope 3 categories are material to your organisation. Map upstream activities (purchased goods, transportation, waste) and downstream activities (product use, end-of-life) to specific nodes or organisation-wide.

5

Generate Data Collection Tasks

Once boundaries are finalised, the system automatically generates a tailored Task List in Task Manager. Each task specifies exactly which data must be collected, from which node, for which emission source.

Why Use Emission Boundaries Configuration

GHG Protocol Alignment

Boundaries configuration follows GHG Protocol Corporate Standard requirements. Operational Control, Financial Control, and Equity Share consolidation approaches are supported for different reporting needs.

Automated Task Generation

Stop manually creating data collection checklists. Once boundaries are defined, the system generates comprehensive tasks covering every configured emission source. Nothing gets missed.

Consistent Year-Over-Year Reporting

Documented boundaries ensure consistent scope across reporting periods. When organisational changes occur (acquisitions, divestitures), boundary adjustments are tracked and auditable.

Audit-Ready Documentation

External auditors require clear boundary documentation. The configuration provides explicit records of what's included, excluded, and the rationale for consolidation approach selection.

Scope 3 Materiality Focus

Not all 15 Scope 3 categories are material to every organisation. The configuration process helps you select relevant categories based on your industry and value chain, avoiding unnecessary data collection.

Multi-Site Flexibility

Configure different emission sources for different facilities. A manufacturing site has different Scope 1 sources than a corporate office. Boundaries respect these operational differences.

Who Needs Emission Boundaries Configuration

Sustainability Managers Starting Carbon Accounting

New to carbon accounting? Emission Boundaries guides you through the foundational decisions. Define what's included before collecting data, ensuring you measure the right things from the start.

Organisations with Complex Structures

Companies with multiple facilities, subsidiaries, or joint ventures need clear boundary rules. The configuration handles parent-child relationships and consolidation approaches for accurate group-level reporting.

Finance Teams Aligning with Reporting

Climate reporting boundaries should align with financial reporting where possible. The Operational Control and Financial Control options map to common accounting consolidation approaches.

Consultants Setting Up Client Accounts

Establish consistent boundary frameworks across client portfolios. The structured configuration ensures clients understand scope before data collection begins.

Companies Preparing for Mandatory Disclosure

AASB S2 requires documented organisational boundaries. Configure boundaries now to ensure your 2026-2027 disclosures are built on a solid, auditable foundation.

Emission Boundaries Configuration Features

Consolidation Approach Selection

Choose between Operational Control (most common), Financial Control, or Equity Share consolidation approaches. Selection determines which entities and emissions are included in your inventory.

Scope 1 Source Configuration

Define stationary combustion (boilers, generators, furnaces, heaters) and mobile combustion (company vehicles, fleet equipment) sources at the facility level. Specify fuel types and equipment.

Scope 2 Requirements Setup

Configure purchased energy requirements for electricity, heat, steam, and cooling. Support for both Location-Based and Market-Based accounting enables dual reporting.

Scope 3 Category Selection

Select from 15 GHG Protocol Scope 3 categories based on materiality. Configure upstream (purchased goods, transportation, waste) and downstream (product use, investments) activities.

Node-Specific Task Assignment

Assign emission source data collection to specific organisational nodes. A facility-level electricity task differs from an organisation-wide business travel task.

Automatic Task List Generation

Finalised boundaries trigger automatic Task Manager population. Every configured emission source generates corresponding data collection tasks with clear requirements.

Boundary Documentation

Export boundary configuration as formal documentation. Includes consolidation approach, included entities, emission sources, and Scope 3 categories for audit records.

Change Tracking

Boundary modifications are logged with timestamps and user attribution. Track when and why boundaries changed for year-over-year consistency and restatement documentation.

Real Results from Real Users

See how companies are transforming their sustainability reporting

Boo Studio
Operations Manager, Operations Manager
"We have three facilities with very different operations—manufacturing, warehousing, and corporate offices. Emission Boundaries let us configure different Scope 1 sources for each site while maintaining a consolidated group view."
Impact:
  • Configured 3 facilities with distinct emission profiles
  • Automatic task generation saved 8 hours of setup
  • Boundary documentation satisfied auditor requirements
Promotion Products
Sustainability Coordinator, Sustainability Coordinator
"The Scope 3 category selection process was eye-opening. We identified that only 8 of the 15 categories were material to our business. This focused our data collection efforts and made the project manageable."
Impact:
  • Identified 8 material Scope 3 categories from 15
  • Focused data collection on high-impact sources
  • Task Manager populated automatically after configuration
Nature
CFO, CFO
"Aligning our emission boundaries with financial reporting boundaries was important for board comfort. The Operational Control approach matched how we consolidate financially, making climate data consistent with our annual report."
Impact:
  • Emission boundaries aligned with financial reporting
  • Board confidence in consistent consolidation approach
  • Documentation ready for AASB S2 disclosure

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Emission Boundaries Configuration

What is an organisational boundary in carbon accounting?
An organisational boundary defines which facilities, subsidiaries, and operations are included in your carbon inventory. It determines 'what you're measuring.' The GHG Protocol offers three consolidation approaches: Operational Control, Financial Control, and Equity Share. Most organisations use Operational Control.
What's the difference between Operational Control and Financial Control?
Operational Control includes 100% of emissions from operations where you have authority to introduce operating policies. Financial Control includes emissions based on your ability to direct financial and operating policies. Most Australian companies use Operational Control as it's clearer to apply and aligns with regulatory expectations.
Do I need to measure all 15 Scope 3 categories?
No. The GHG Protocol requires you to measure Scope 3 categories that are material to your organisation. During boundary configuration, you select relevant categories based on your industry and value chain. A software company's material categories differ significantly from a manufacturer's.
What happens after I configure boundaries?
Once boundaries are finalised, the system automatically generates data collection tasks in Task Manager. Each configured emission source creates a corresponding task specifying what data is needed, from which node, for which reporting period.
Can I change boundaries after configuration?
Yes, but changes are tracked. Boundary modifications are logged with timestamps and user attribution. If you add a new facility or remove a divestiture, the change history supports year-over-year comparisons and restatement documentation.
How do boundaries relate to organisational nodes?
Nodes represent your organisational structure (facilities, regions, business units). Boundaries define which nodes are included in your inventory and which emission sources exist at each node. You must configure nodes before defining boundaries.
What if my organisation structure changes mid-year?
The GHG Protocol provides guidance on structural changes (acquisitions, divestitures, mergers). Boundary configuration supports documenting these changes, adjusting base year recalculations, and maintaining consistent reporting despite structural changes.
Is boundary documentation required for AASB S2?
Yes. AASB S2 requires organisations to disclose their organisational boundary and consolidation approach. The boundary configuration export provides the documentation needed for this disclosure requirement.

Define Your Carbon Accounting Foundation

Clear Boundaries. Accurate Reporting.

Start your carbon accounting journey with properly configured emission boundaries. NetNada guides you through GHG Protocol-aligned setup that generates automatic data collection tasks and audit-ready documentation.

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