Given the link between greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change, many entities are quantifying their GHG emissions for internal management purposes, and many are also preparing a GHG statement:

(a) As part of a regulatory disclosure regime;
(b) As part of an emissions trading scheme; or
(c) To inform investors and others on a voluntary basis.

Salient features of ISAE 3410 are summarized below:

• This ISAE deals with assurance engagements to report on an entity’s GHG statement.
• This ISAE applies to assurance procedures performed with respect to the GHG statement other than when the GHG statement is a relatively minor part of the overall information subject to assurance.
• This ISAE does not deal with, or provide specific guidance for, assurance engagements to report on the following:
  • Statements of Emissions Other Than GHG Emissions.
  • Key Performance Indicators Based on Emissions Data
  • Instruments, Processes or Mechanisms Such as Offset Projects, Used By Other Entities as Emissions Deductions.
• This ISAE deals with both reasonable and limited assurance engagements. In both reasonable assurance and limited assurance engagements on a GHG statement, the practitioner chooses a combination of assurance procedures, which can include: inspection; observation; confirmation; recalculation; reperformance; analytical procedures; and inquiry.
• This ISAE expands on how ISAE 3000 is to be applied in an assurance engagement to report on an entity’s GHG statement.
• The practitioner shall not represent compliance with this ISAE unless the practitioner has complied with the requirements of both this ISAE and ISAE 3000.
• The assurance report for GHG statement will be prepared in accordance with the contents given in para 76 of this ISAE. Appendix 2 contains illustrations of assurance reports on GHG statements incorporating the elements set forth in paragraph 76.
• This ISAE is effective for assurance reports covering periods beginning on or after July 1, 2014.