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Julia Mariasova

Greenhouse gas emissions or, as it is also called, carbon footprint is a fundamental component of the overall sustainability performance of any organisation. Measuring Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHGs) involves quantifying the amount of GHGs released into atmosphere as a result of operations directly or indirectly owned or controlled by a company.  As carbon accounting is becoming mandatory across many regions, we created a course that will help you navigate this subject.

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Greenhouse gas emissions or, as it is also called, carbon footprint is a fundamental component of the overall sustainability performance of any organisation. Measuring Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHGs) involves quantifying the amount of GHGs released into atmosphere as a result of operations directly or indirectly owned or controlled by a company.  As carbon accounting is becoming mandatory across many regions, we created a course that will help you navigate this subject.

The course provides a brief overview of the key voluntary and mandatory disclosure regulations that require reporting of the greenhouse gases. It defines carbon accounting concepts, explains which data and calculation methods are required in order to  calculate the GHG emissions.

In this course you will explore examples of GHG inventories and sustainability reports so that you feel comfortable understanding and analysing GHG emissions data in these reports. We will discuss key carbon accounting standards, mostly focusing on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol methodology. At the same time we will look at the criticisms of this standard and the solutions that are proposed by the academics from Harvard and Oxford, specifically focussing on E-Liability accounting method and how it drives GHG reductions across value chains and helps with competitiveness and product differentiation based on carbon intensity.

The course is structured in a way that is gives you an insight into the process disregarding the size of the business or the industry, but if you want to dig deeper, we will provide you with additional reading materials by sector. We will briefly touch the question of how technologies and software can help you with the carbon accounting process automation and what you need to pay attention to when choosing the software. And we will also talk about existing collaboration initiatives that you might want to join to get support/benchmarking for your carbon reporting and GHG reduction activities.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Carbon accounting and reporting
  • Voluntary and mandatory sustainability disclosures that require carbon reporting
  • Greenhouse gas protocol and iso 14064 as key ghg accounting and reporting standards
  • Defining organisational and operational boundaries for ghg emissions reporting
  • Emission scopes and calculation methods
  • Data collection and emission factors
  • Ghg accounting and reporting alignment and collaboration initiatives
  • E-liability accounting approach for driving carbon reductions across value chain and product differentiation
  • Ghg accounting and reporting technology tools considerations

Syllabus

WELCOME TO THE COURSE
Welcome to the course: contents, instructor and guest speakers
THE WHY, THE WHAT AND THE HOW of Carbon Accounting: Key Concepts and Standards
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores both the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the E-Liability accounting method, offering a comprehensive view of carbon accounting standards
Covers voluntary and mandatory disclosure regulations, which is essential for organizations navigating evolving reporting requirements
Examines criticisms of the GHG Protocol and introduces the E-Liability accounting approach, which may offer alternative perspectives
Includes a demo of a GHG accounting and reporting tool, which can help learners automate their carbon accounting processes
Requires learners to collect primary and secondary data for GHG calculations, which may require additional time and resources
Focuses primarily on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol methodology, which may not cover all carbon accounting standards in detail

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Carbon Accounting and E-Liability as Tools for Reducing GHGs with these activities:
Review Basic Accounting Principles
Solidify your understanding of fundamental accounting principles to better grasp carbon accounting concepts.
Browse courses on Financial Accounting
Show steps
  • Review key accounting terms and definitions.
  • Practice basic journal entries and financial statement preparation.
  • Familiarize yourself with different accounting methods.
Read 'The Carbon Footprint Handbook'
Gain a deeper understanding of carbon footprinting methodologies and their practical applications.
Show steps
  • Read the book, focusing on chapters related to GHG emissions calculation.
  • Take notes on key concepts and methodologies.
  • Reflect on how the concepts apply to real-world scenarios.
Calculate Scope 1, 2, and 3 Emissions
Reinforce your understanding of emissions scopes by performing example calculations.
Show steps
  • Gather data for hypothetical companies.
  • Calculate Scope 1 emissions using the direct measurement approach.
  • Calculate Scope 2 emissions using location-based and market-based methods.
  • Estimate Scope 3 emissions for various categories.
Four other activities
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Show all seven activities
Develop a GHG Inventory for a Small Business
Apply your knowledge by creating a GHG inventory for a real or hypothetical small business.
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  • Select a small business to analyze.
  • Define organizational and operational boundaries.
  • Collect data on energy consumption, transportation, and waste generation.
  • Calculate Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
  • Prepare a GHG inventory report.
Study 'Sustainability Accounting and Reporting'
Expand your understanding of sustainability reporting frameworks and their relationship to carbon accounting.
Show steps
  • Read the book, focusing on chapters related to GHG emissions reporting.
  • Compare and contrast different sustainability reporting frameworks.
  • Analyze real-world sustainability reports.
Write a Blog Post on E-Liability Accounting
Deepen your understanding of E-Liability accounting by explaining it to others.
Show steps
  • Research E-Liability accounting principles.
  • Outline the key concepts and benefits.
  • Write a clear and concise blog post explaining E-Liability accounting.
  • Include examples of how it can drive GHG reductions.
Contribute to an Open Source GHG Calculation Tool
Gain practical experience by contributing to an open-source project related to GHG emissions calculation.
Show steps
  • Find an open-source GHG calculation tool on platforms like GitHub.
  • Review the project's documentation and code.
  • Identify areas where you can contribute, such as bug fixes or new features.
  • Submit your contributions to the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Carbon Accounting and E-Liability as Tools for Reducing GHGs will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Carbon Accounting Specialist
The Carbon Accounting Specialist is tasked with measuring, analyzing, and reporting an organization's greenhouse gas emissions. A key aspect of this role involves adherence to established protocols and standards, such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and ISO 14064, which are emphasized in this course. The course provides a great introduction to carbon accounting concepts, explaining which data and calculation methods are required in order to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the course's exploration of E-Liability accounting provides insights into driving carbon reductions across value chains and product differentiation based on carbon intensity, which is crucial for competitiveness in carbon accounting.
Sustainability Manager
A Sustainability Manager leads initiatives to reduce an organization's environmental impact. The course helps the Manager navigate voluntary and mandatory disclosure regulations that require reporting of the greenhouse gases. This role includes a need to understand carbon accounting concepts and to explain which data and calculation methods are required in order to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions. The course also addresses emission scopes, calculation methods, data collection, and emission factors, all essential for effective management of sustainability initiatives. By exploring examples of greenhouse gas inventories and sustainability reports, a Sustainability Manager can better analyze greenhouse gas emissions data and guide companies toward more sustainable practices.
Sustainability Consultant
A Sustainability Consultant advises organizations on how to operate in a more environmentally responsible manner. This often involves evaluating their current practices, identifying areas for improvement in carbon emissions, and recommending strategies to reduce their carbon footprint. This course helps those in this role understand carbon accounting concepts, key carbon accounting standards like the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and how to navigate voluntary and mandatory disclosure regulations that require reporting of greenhouse gases. By exploring examples of greenhouse gas inventories and sustainability reports, a Sustainability Consultant can better analyze greenhouse gas emissions data and guide companies toward more sustainable practices. Specifically, the E-Liability accounting method discussed in this course offers solutions for driving greenhouse gas reductions across value chains.
Environmental Compliance Officer
An Environmental Compliance Officer ensures that an organization adheres to environmental regulations and standards, including those related to greenhouse gas emissions. To be successful, this role benefits from familiarity with voluntary and mandatory sustainability disclosures that require carbon reporting and how to navigate this subject. The course examines the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and ISO 14064 as key greenhouse gas accounting and reporting standards, as well as defining organizational and operational boundaries for greenhouse gas emissions reporting. Knowledge of emission scopes and calculation methods, coupled with data collection and emission factors, will allow the Compliance Officer to have success in this role.
Environmental Analyst
An Environmental Analyst researches and analyzes environmental data to assess the impact of various activities on the environment. This role requires a strong understanding of greenhouse gas emissions, carbon accounting, and reporting standards. This course directly correlates to these needs, providing a comprehensive overview of carbon accounting concepts, including defining organizational and operational boundaries for greenhouse gas emissions reporting. By exploring examples of greenhouse gas inventories and sustainability reports, an Environmental Analyst improves their ability to analyze greenhouse gas emissions data. The course also addresses emission scopes, calculation methods, data collection, emission factors, and greenhouse gas accounting, all essential for effective environmental analysis.
Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
A Corporate Social Responsibility Manager develops and implements strategies that align a company's operations with ethical and sustainable practices. Understanding and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions is a significant part of this role. This course helps the Manager understand key carbon accounting standards, mostly focusing on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol methodology. Moreover, the course's discussion of E-Liability accounting offers a fresh perspective on driving greenhouse gas reductions across value chains, aiding in competitiveness and product differentiation based on carbon intensity. This knowledge is highly relevant for integrating carbon reduction strategies into the broader corporate social responsibility framework.
Supply Chain Analyst
A Supply Chain Analyst examines the flow of goods and services from suppliers to consumers, identifying opportunities for efficiency and cost reduction, including those related to carbon emissions. This role may be useful for understanding carbon accounting concepts, explaining what data and calculation methods are required to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions. The course directly addresses scope three emissions, which are often the most challenging to quantify and manage within a supply chain. The E-Liability accounting approach discussed is also relevant, as it focuses on driving greenhouse gas reductions across the entire value chain.
Environmental Scientist
An Environmental Scientist studies the impact of human activities on the environment, often focusing on pollution and climate change. In this role, it's helpful to understand carbon accounting concepts, to explain which data and calculation methods are required in order to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions. The course directly addresses emission scopes, calculation methods, data collection, and emission factors, all essential for effective environmental analysis. The course may be particularly relevant for those focusing on climate change mitigation strategies.
ESG Analyst
An ESG Analyst evaluates companies based on their environmental, social, and governance practices, including their carbon footprint. This role requires a need to understand how to feel comfortable understanding and analysing greenhouse gas emissions data in these reports. The course defines carbon accounting concepts and explains which data and calculation methods are required in order to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions. Because carbon accounting is becoming mandatory across many regions, this course can help an ESG Analyst navigate the subject.
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
A Regulatory Affairs Specialist ensures that a company complies with all relevant environmental regulations, including those pertaining to greenhouse gas emissions. This role needs a solid understanding of the key voluntary and mandatory disclosure regulations that require reporting of the greenhouse gases. This course helps those in this role navigate this subject. The course will enable the specialist to understand examples of greenhouse gas inventories and sustainability reports, and to analyze greenhouse gas emissions data in these reports.
Energy Auditor
An Energy Auditor assesses the energy consumption of buildings and processes to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements. This role may be useful for understanding how to measure greenhouse gas emissions by quantifying the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere as a result of operations directly or indirectly owned or controlled by a company. The course may help an energy auditor to explain which data and calculation methods are required to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions. Familiarity with emission scopes and calculation methods, which are covered in the course, is very useful.
Emissions Trader
The role of an Emissions Trader involves buying and selling carbon credits or allowances in emissions trading schemes. A successful Emissions Trader benefits from a deep understanding of carbon accounting principles as this is becoming mandatory across many regions. The course will help you navigate this subject. The course also covers the key voluntary and mandatory disclosure regulations that require reporting of the greenhouse gases. By exploring examples of greenhouse gas inventories and sustainability reports, one can better understand and analyze greenhouse gas emissions data in these reports.
Carbon Offset Project Developer
A Carbon Offset Project Developer creates and manages projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions, generating carbon credits that can be sold. To do this, it may be useful to understand carbon accounting concepts and standards like the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The course directly addresses the Greenhouse Gas Protocol methodology. By exploring examples of greenhouse gas inventories and sustainability reports, those in this role may analyze greenhouse gas emissions data.
Investment Analyst
An Investment Analyst works within the finance sector. They evaluate investment opportunities. Increasingly, this role involves assessing the environmental impact of companies, including their carbon footprint. Those in the field may find it helpful to understand carbon accounting concepts and standards like the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. This course might help investment analysts understand how to analyze greenhouse gas emissions data.
Product Manager
A Product Manager guides the development and launch of new products, and is responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition for a product or product line. If the product is related to sustainability, it may be useful to understand carbon accounting concepts, to understand key carbon accounting standards like the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and to navigate voluntary and mandatory disclosure regulations that require reporting of greenhouse gases. The course discusses technologies and software that can help with carbon accounting process automation.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Carbon Accounting and E-Liability as Tools for Reducing GHGs.
Provides a comprehensive overview of carbon footprinting methodologies and their applications. It covers various aspects of carbon footprint assessment, including data collection, calculation methods, and interpretation of results. It serves as a valuable reference for understanding the practical aspects of carbon accounting and reporting. It offers real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the application of carbon footprinting in different industries.
Provides a detailed overview of sustainability accounting and reporting practices. It covers various frameworks and standards, including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). It is more valuable as additional reading than as a current reference. It helps to understand the broader context of carbon accounting within sustainability reporting.

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