Carbon accounting: measuring and managing your corporate carbon footprint
In a world where businesses must balance growth with environmental responsibility, carbon accounting is key.
Read the full introduction
In a world where businesses must balance growth with environmental responsibility, carbon accounting is key. This is where we track greenhouse gas emissions and take steps to reduce them.
Key takeaways
- Carbon accounting involves measuring, documenting and reporting all sources of greenhouse gas emissions across a company's operations and supply chain to identify reduction opportunities.
- Under the CSRD, companies must disclose Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions as part of ESRS E1, making accurate carbon accounting a compliance requirement, not just a voluntary exercise.
- Coolset's carbon management platform automates emissions measurement, identifies hotspots and generates audit-ready GHG reports.
In a world where businesses must balance growth with environmental responsibility, carbon accounting is key. This is where we track greenhouse gas emissions and take steps to reduce them.
This guide takes you through the ins and outs of carbon accounting. We'll also introduce you to carbon accounting software to help make this task easier. It's all about charting a path to a greener future for your business.
What is carbon accounting?
Carbon accounting is a method used to measure, track, and report the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that an organization, product, event, or person is responsible for. Here's a simple breakdown:
Measurement
Carbon accounting involves quantifying the amount of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) that activities emit into the atmosphere. This is often measured in metric tons.
Tracking
Carbon accounting isn't just a one-time thing. It requires consistent monitoring of GHG emissions over time to understand trends, make comparisons, and identify opportunities for reduction.
Reporting
Transparently communicating a company's emissions data is a key part of carbon accounting. This helps stakeholders understand the environmental impact of the company's activities.
Reduction
By identifying where most emissions come from, companies can strategically implement reduction initiatives.
Scope
Carbon accounting takes into account emissions from direct operations (scope 1), indirect emissions from purchased electricity (scope 2), and other indirect emissions from activities like transportation, waste disposal, or raw material extraction (scope 3).
