Sustainability Reporting and Certification
Expert sustainability reporting, carbon footprint assessment, and water footprint measurement for organisations across UAE, GCC, Saudi Arabia, and globally. From Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventories to investor-ready Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reports — our consultants deliver credible, framework-aligned sustainability disclosure.
Why Sustainability Reporting & Footprint Assessment?
Sustainability reporting is now a regulatory and investor requirement, not just voluntary CSR. With global frameworks such as Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and other disclosure mandates, organizations must accurately measure and report carbon and water footprints to meet compliance and investor expectations. Credible sustainability begins with robust data.
Our consultants provide technically sound, verifiable carbon and water accounting aligned with global reporting frameworks and regional priorities such as UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and GCC sustainability goals. We ensure your disclosures are accurate, compliant, and trusted by regulators, investors, and stakeholders.
Our Sustainability Reporting & Measurement Services
Foundation Service
Comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory across Scope 1, 2, and 3 following GHG Protocol Corporate Standard and ISO 14064-1.
Critical for GCC
Comprehensive water consumption and pollution measurement across direct operations and supply chain following Water Footprint Network and ISO 14046 methodologies.
The Three Scopes of GHG Emissions
01
Scope 1
• Definition – Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources
• Sources – On-site fuel combustion (boilers, generators), company vehicles, refrigerants, process emissions (manufacturing)
• Typical % of Total – 20-40% (manufacturing/transport heavy)
02
Scope 2
• Definition – Indirect emissions from purchased energy
• Sources – Purchased electricity, district cooling/heating, steam
• Typical % of Total – 20-50% (office/retail/service sectors)
03
Scope 3
• Definition – All other indirect emissions in value chain (15 categories)
• Sources – Purchased goods/services, business travel, employee commuting, upstream/downstream transport, product use, investments
• Typical % of Total – 50-80% (most organisations)
Water Footprint Assessment in Detail
Blue Water
Consumptive use of surface and groundwater
Irrigation, industrial processes, cooling systems, drinking water, product incorporation.
Most visible and measurable; directly depletes water resources.
Green Water
Rainwater stored in soil consumed during production
Evapotranspiration from crops, forestry products, agricultural raw materials.
Largest component for food and bio-based products; often 50-90% of total.
Grey Water
Freshwater required to dilute pollutants to ambient standards
Industrial effluent, agricultural runoff, wastewater discharges.
Represents water quality impact; critical for pollution footprint.
Why Water Footprint Matters in UAE/GCC
The Middle East faces severe water stress — UAE among most water-scarce countries globally. Water footprinting is particularly critical in the region:
1. Water Scarcity
Groundwater depletion, minimal renewable freshwater, heavy desalination dependence
2. Energy-Water Nexus
Desalination extremely energy-intensive (~4 kWh per m³) creating carbon-water linkage.
3. Supply Chain Risk
Global supply chains dependent on water-stressed regions (agriculture, textiles, materials).
04. Regulatory Trend
Increasing water efficiency requirements (Dubai Municipality, DEWA tariffs, water conservation mandates).
05. Investor Focus
CDP Water Security questionnaire, water-related financial risks, stranded asset concerns.
06. Operational Cost
Water and wastewater charges escalating — efficiency delivers direct cost savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is a carbon footprint assessment and why is it important?
A carbon footprint assessment is a comprehensive measurement of an organisation’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned sources), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy), and Scope 3 (all other indirect emissions across the value chain). It is important because it establishes the baseline data needed for emissions reduction targets, regulatory compliance, investor disclosure, and credible sustainability reporting. For most organisations, Scope 3 emissions represent 50–80% of total emissions — making supply chain measurement particularly critical.
Q2: What is the difference between Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions?
Scope 1 covers direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by an organisation — such as on-site fuel combustion, company vehicles, and refrigerants, typically representing 20–40% of total emissions for manufacturing and transport businesses. Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from purchased electricity, district cooling, and heating — often 20–50% of total emissions for office and retail businesses. Scope 3 covers all other indirect emissions across the value chain — including purchased goods, business travel, employee commuting, and product use — and typically accounts for 50–80% of an organisation’s total carbon footprint.
Q3: Why is water footprint assessment particularly critical for businesses in the UAE and GCC?
The UAE and GCC face severe water stress — the UAE is among the most water-scarce countries globally, relying heavily on energy-intensive desalination (approximately 4 kWh per m³). Water footprinting is critical in the region due to rapidly depleting groundwater, increasing regulatory efficiency requirements from authorities like Dubai Municipality and DEWA, growing investor scrutiny through CDP Water Security reporting, escalating water and wastewater costs, and the significant water dependency embedded in regional supply chains for agriculture, textiles, and raw materials.
Q4: What are the three types of water footprint and what do they measure?
Water footprint assessment measures three components: Blue Water — the consumptive use of surface and groundwater for processes such as irrigation, industrial cooling, and product incorporation, which directly depletes freshwater resources; Green Water — rainwater stored in soil and consumed during production, typically the largest component for food and bio-based products (50–90% of total); and Grey Water — the volume of freshwater required to dilute pollutants from industrial effluent and agricultural runoff to acceptable ambient standards, representing the quality impact of operations.
Q5: Is sustainability reporting now a regulatory requirement or still voluntary?
Sustainability reporting is rapidly moving from voluntary to mandatory. Global frameworks such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) now impose mandatory disclosure requirements on organisations in key markets. In the UAE and GCC, national strategies such as the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and GCC sustainability goals are driving increasing regulatory expectations around carbon and water disclosure. Organisations that establish robust measurement and reporting processes now are better positioned for compliance, investor confidence, and long-term market access.
