Avoided emissions are defined as the “positive” impact on society when comparing the GHG impact of a solution to an alternative reference scenario where the solution would not be used. They are sometimes referred to as Scope 4 Emissions, but Project Frame does not recommend the use of this term to avoid conflation with Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 used in carbon accounting.

An attribute of impact, requiring an investor or company's thoughtful and reasonable articulation of the degree to which its support causes a change in an outcome that would have not otherwise happened (in a no-intervention or business as usual baseline scenario).

The process of allocating credit for GHG impact based on the relative contributions of various participants in the value chain.

Verification that claims of GHG impact are free from errors, omissions, or misstatements. This is also associated with third-party verification of an investor’s impact methodology and practices.

A projection of GHG emissions over time, representing what would have happened in the absence of an investment or a climate solution.

A part of an overall solution that plays a critical role in delivering GHG impact. The GHG impact will depend on the use case for the product that contains the component.

When a solution can be purchased as a whole to yield GHG impact (for example, an electric vehicle, heat pump, or more sustainably produced food product).

An intervention or innovation in a technology, product, service, device, or process that may result in GHG impact.

Attributing portions of impact across the shareholders of the company that has put the proposed climate solution on the market.