How the Advancing Low Carbon programme works
Activities from all aspects of BP’s businesses are eligible for inclusion in the ALC programme. They must meet the ALC criteria and requirements
Advancing Low Carbon process
Each activity must go through the ALC accreditation process before BP decides whether it can be accredited and receive the Advancing Low Carbon mark.
- Step 1 – Potential eligible activities are identified.
- Step 2 – Business areas submit an application(s) to the ALC programme and provide the required evidence.
- Step 3 – ALC team and internal experts review the application materials.
- Step 4 – Members of our external advisory panel provide external guidance and advice.
- Step 5 – Deloitte LLP conducts independent assurance on the Advancing Low Carbon activities.
- Step 6 – Successful activities are accredited and become part of the ALC programme for the 12-month accreditation period.
Once awarded, the accreditation is valid for 12 months and the activity can use the Advancing Low Carbon mark. This mark is used to identify activities that BP has accredited and can then be used in associated communications and branding, where appropriate.
To retain its accreditation under our Advancing Low Carbon programme, each activity must undergo an annual review process to prove it continues to meet our ALC programme criteria.
Advancing Low Carbon criteria
To qualify for ALC accreditation, an activity or project must meet the specific set of criteria outlined below.
Each activity must:
1 Deliver better carbon outcomes, by achieving at least one of the following:
- reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- producing less carbon than competitor or industry benchmarks
- providing renewable energy
- offsetting carbon produced
- furthering research and technology to advance low carbon
- enabling BP or third parties to meet their low carbon objectives.
2 Comply with ALC programme requirements on greenhouse gas calculation methodologies.
3 Deliver better carbon outcomes which are intended to be irreversible.
4 Go beyond what is required to meet carbon emissions regulations.
5 Be up and running.
6 Be delivered either directly by BP or by a BP partner.
7 Be verified by an independent third party assurance provider.
The breadth of the ALC programme means that different baselines, benchmarks and calculation methodologies apply depending on the activity. A table with more information on the methodologies and standards used for the 2019 ALC programme is also available below.
Evaluation, assurance and verification
A number of individuals and groups – internal and external to BP – are involved in evaluating, assuring and verifying each ALC activity before BP accredits the activity.
ALC programme team
The ALC programme team is responsible for operating the programme. This includes overseeing the identification of potential eligible activities across BP and working with BP subject matter experts and groups in the detailed evaluation of each activity.
The ALC programme team is responsible for operating the programme. This includes overseeing the identification of potential eligible activities across BP and working with BP subject matter experts and groups in the detailed evaluation of each activity.
Subject matter experts
The ALC programme has access to a wide range of qualified and experienced staff members that we consider to be subject matter experts in their field.These subject matter experts assist the ALC team in reviewing submissions and data using the prescribed ALC criteria, guidance and relevant GHG methodology.
Carbon Steering Group
Our steering group provides oversight of the ALC programme by advising on shortlisted activities, reviewing risks and challenges and ensuring that the programme objectives are being met. It consists of relevant senior leaders drawn from across BP.
External advisory panel
Independent external review is provided by the Carbon Advisory Panel – Products & BPTN, which includes industry experts and representatives from non-governmental organizations such as The Nature Conservancy. As part of its remit, this panel reviews the ALC programme and activities once annually, providing external guidance and advice.
Third party assurance
The programme’s independent third party assurance partner is Deloitte LLP. Deloitte conducts independent assurance on the Advancing Low Carbon activities on an annual basis, including assessing the application of BP’s process and criteria for accrediting activities, and GHG emissions offset and saved within the programme. Deloitte LLP also reviews any updates to the programme each year, as well as the communication of all the ALC activities and ALC accreditation programme via the ALC programme webpages and BP’s Annual Report and Sustainability Report to assess that this reflects the evidence they have been provided.
For further information on the external assurance of this programme, please refer to the Deloitte Assurance Statement, below.