GHG Protocol Scope 3.16 focuses on insurance-related emissions

Big news for the insurance sector: the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) Scope 3 Technical Working Group is advancing a proposal for a brand-new category — Scope 3.16 — to specifically capture key emissions sources from insurance activities.

This update would shift insurance-associated emissions out of the current category 15 and into their own dedicated category 16, creating clearer guidance for insurers on how to measure and manage these impacts.

In addition, claims emissions are defined as “emissions financed by an insurer’s claims payment (paid to an insured party),” and would also fall under this new category.

Key takeaways on claims emissions:

• Their inclusion in a separate category underscores their material significance for any insurer.

• They are considered downstream emissions, recognizing the complex value chain spanning insurers, claimants, and suppliers within the claims ecosystem.

At Claims Carbon, we’ve so far classified claims emissions under downstream category 3.11 (“Use of sold products”) as the closest match. We’re excited that the insurance industry will soon gain its own dedicated framework for these emissions.

Meanwhile, the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) has begun developing a standard for claims emissions, building on its existing standardization work on insurance-associated emissions.

With much of this expected to crystallize in 2026, now is the time for insurers to accelerate their understanding — and action — on insurance and claims emissions.

If you’re interested in staying ahead of these developments, we’d love to connect.