In the quest to fight the adverse effects caused by climate change, businesses leading the war front have similar things in common. Among their shared strategies is the use of carbon accounting tools. It helps them make plans and actions that deliver the best results. The goal is to make more accurate decisions about the proper management of carbon.
Today, more corporations are using internal carbon pricing and carbon accounting. According to a few studies, about 50% of the world’s largest companies have internal carbon fees.
This guide offers complete details. Keep reading.
Carbon Accounting: What Is It?
If you are unfamiliar with the word “carbon accounting,” carbon accounting has been used for over twenty years.
This term was established around 1997 under the Kyoto Protocol – a treaty. It was written and agreed upon to reduce emissions that may affect the climate.
Carbon accounting deals with several practices. The goal is to calculate the amount of carbon an organization or nation emits. It is therefore divided into two sections: financial carbon accounting and physical carbon accounting.
Financial carbon accounting presents the carbon manufactured and absorbed in a financial market value.
Physical carbon accounting measures the direct and indirect carbon emissions an organization or country uses in its activities. It is also known as a GHG (greenhouse gas). That is, what is being released into the atmosphere of the earth?
Importance of Carbon Accounting
Governments and companies need carbon accounting. Why do organizations need to measure their carbon emissions? There are several reasons.
You need a clear understanding of the amount of carbon that’s released into the atmosphere. This will assist companies in coming up with methods of reducing these emissions. It’s an excellent way to fight climate change and save money. Here are a few others.
Economic value
Carbon accounting offers economic benefits. There is improved efficiency as well as cost-effective processes. For businesses, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced with carbon accounting in place.
The data stored can be used among departments for active collaboration. They can switch to renewables in other to decrease their emissions.
Do you also know that the majority of the emissions of most organizations are from business travel? A carbon accounting will reveal this. For instance, flight emissions can be reduced to 50 percent annually. By working on this, a business can save more money on flights. That’s not all, and more cash can be saved by offsetting the same flights. Accurate data for assumptions are provided. This also helps a business communicate to customers why they won’t be flying to a meeting.
Apart from helping organizations to save money, carbon accounting also assists them in de-risk carbon prices in the future. The cost of emitting greenhouse gas emissions into the environment increases when emissions increase. This implies that whatever price you currently use to offset your emissions today will likely increase.
Therefore, you must understand your emissions and keep reducing them now to save more money. It can be quickly done with the aid of carbon accounting.
Better environment
There are several environmental benefits carbon accounting offers. Carbon accounting helps a company have a holistic view of itself. A business can see how it contributes to the damage done to its environment of operation. This accounting also reveals where a business needs to improve in handling the smaller parts of the company.
Looking at it from a financial accounting point of view.
Assuming your business spends $2,000 every month on personal outgoings. A detailed breakdown will be needed, especially about your spending – on what and where.
It shows you what percentage of your money you spend on eating out. If you already spend more than 80 percent on this activity, you will strive to eat out less. It will decide your future.
Also, there will be a measurable impact on different areas if you can save $15 monthly on a Netflix subscription. It can be tackled.
That’s the similar effect carbon accounting offers an organization. It helps you spot the most significant source of carbon emissions. That’s only when you can know what to reduce for better results.
Social and branding
Today, consumers are paying more attention to sustainability. It influences how they decide which company to work with or a business to shop from.
Companies that are quick in reducing their emissions will have a better reputation for sustainability. That’s why a business needs to find a way to measure them with carbon accounting. Not to mention, actively working on reducing emissions will make it easier for you to engage your clients.
Your organization will also attract more quality employees. A commitment to sustainability is appealing. Many of your employees will value this.
Carbon accounting enhances your branding and social impact in the long haul.
Conclusion
Using carbon accounting methods is vital to better understand how carbon emissions affect your business environment.
This helps your company to set achievable goals that will reduce these emissions. It also helps your business fight climate change effectively. Finally, you can get all information about carbon accounting from environmental experts.
