What is carbon accounting software?
A simple definition
Carbon accounting software helps organisations collect data, calculate greenhouse gas emissions and produce reports. It can support Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 reporting, depending on the tool.
Some tools are built for simple company footprints. Others go further into complex reporting, supplier emissions, product carbon footprints, regulatory disclosures, target tracking or financed emissions.
What does it actually do?
- Collects activity data
- Stores emissions data across periods and sites
- Applies emissions factors
- Calculates Scope 1, Scope 2 and, often, parts of Scope 3
- Tracks data quality
- Produces reports for internal or external use
- Supports repeat annual reporting
- Handles customer or investor requests
- May support reduction planning, targets or dashboards
When might you need it?
- You calculate your company carbon footprint every year
- Customers regularly ask for emissions data
- You need Scope 1, 2 and 3 reporting
- You have multiple sites, entities or teams
- You want repeatable reporting workflows
- You need to track reduction over time
- You need to support disclosure, tenders or internal reporting
When software may not be enough
Software is not a fix for unclear reporting requirements, poor data, complex Scope 3, product-level assessment, financed emissions, or a deadline that requires expert judgement. In those cases a consultant or a hybrid setup tends to work better than buying a tool alone.
Related terms
- Carbon accounting software
- Calculates emissions and produces reports.
- Carbon reporting software
- Similar, with more emphasis on outputs and disclosures.
- Carbon footprint calculator
- A lighter tool for a first estimate.
- Emissions management platform
- Broader term covering measurement, reporting and reduction.
- Scope 3 software
- Focused on value-chain and supplier emissions.
- Supplier emissions tool
- Collects and estimates emissions from suppliers.
- Product carbon footprint tool
- Measures emissions for a specific product.
- LCA software
- Lifecycle assessment for products or processes.
- Financed emissions platform
- For banks, investors and insurers assessing portfolio emissions.
- Carbon accounting consultant
- A person, not a product.
Not sure what kind of solution you need?
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