Course description

This practitioner course translates ISO 14064-3 into a clear, repeatable workflow for verifying or validating greenhouse gas (GHG) statements. You’ll plan engagements, define scope and criteria, and set the level of assurance (limited or reasonable) for organizational inventories, project claims, or product results. We use risk-based planning to focus on material topics, design sampling and test procedures, and evaluate data sources, controls, methods, and uncertainty. You’ll learn how independence and competence are demonstrated, how to identify and resolve discrepancies, and how to document a defensible chain of evidence. We then develop balanced opinions and conclusions, as well as transparent reports, that withstand internal reviews and third-party scrutiny. Because the ISO 14060 family is programme-neutral, we show how to align with external GHG programmes or registries when applicable, treating their rules as additional to ISO guidance. Templates include engagement plans, risk/materiality matrices, sampling sheets, findings logs, and report checklists, usable for inventories (14064-1), project claims (14064-2), or product disclosures.

What you’ll learn

• Plan verification/validation scope, criteria, and assurance level

• Assess independence, competence, and ethical obligations

• Perform risk assessment and set materiality thresholds

• Design sampling and test data/controls and methods

• Evaluate statements against applicable criteria or programme rules

• Address uncertainty, discrepancies, and corrective actions

• Formulate opinions/conclusions and write clear reports

• Maintain engagement records and evidence trails

Who should attend

• GHG verifiers, internal assurance, and audit professionals

• Sustainability/ESG managers responsible for inventories/projects

• Consultants supporting climate disclosures and offsets

• Finance and reporting teams preparing assurance

• Quality/IMS managers integrating assurance processes

Recommended

• Basic knowledge of GHG quantification (14064-1/-2 helpful)

• Familiarity with data management and sampling concepts

• Comfort with spreadsheets and simple statistics

• Awareness of applicable GHG programs/registries

Course description

A practical, workshop-style course that equips you to plan, conduct, report, and follow up internal audits of an ISO 14001 EMS. You’ll apply process- and risk-based auditing, use effective sampling and interviewing techniques, write clear nonconformity statements with supporting evidence, evaluate root causes and corrective actions, and manage opening and closing meetings and audit reports. We also cover auditing environmental aspects/impacts, compliance obligations, emergency preparedness, contractors/outsourced processes, life-cycle thinking, and remote/hybrid auditing.

What you’ll learn

• Translate ISO 14001 requirements into practical audit criteria across the EMS
• Build an audit program and plan: scope, objectives, team, timetable, and checklists
• Use interviews, document review, and sampling to gather objective evidence
• Write clear findings (conformity, nonconformity, opportunities) tied to requirements and evidence
• Facilitate opening/closing meetings and deliver concise, decision-ready audit reports
• Apply root cause tools (e.g., 5 Whys, cause-and-effect) and verify corrective actions for effectiveness
• Audit higher-risk areas: significant aspects, compliance evaluation, change management, and emergencies
• Integrate remote auditing techniques and maintain auditor impartiality and competence

Who should attend

• EMS coordinators, environmental/HSE practitioners, and sustainability leads
• Operations, maintenance, and facilities supervisors participating in audits
• Quality/IMS managers integrating 14001 with other ISO systems
• New and practicing internal auditors seeking a structured refresh
• Consultants supporting EMS gap assessments or pre-certification readiness

Recommended

• Foundational knowledge of ISO 14001 or completion of an EMS fundamentals course
• Basic understanding of environmental aspects/impacts and compliance obligations
• Comfort with spreadsheets and evidence review (records, logs, monitoring data)
• Awareness of the country/province regulatory context and reporting programs