It can be easy to get disheartened in the face of the climate crisis. The scope and scale of the issue can be daunting, with the World Health Organisation reporting that 3.6 billion people already live in areas highly susceptible to climate change.
But despite the challenges ahead, it is important to acknowledge the positive work being done. Many organisations than ever before are taking steps to identify their impact on the environment and put in place measures to reduce the harm being done to the Earth.
Of course an important part of this progress lies in understanding the organisation’s impact by accounting for carbon emissions. With this practice in place it is then necessary to implement a robust carbon reduction plan.
At SmartCarbon we’re proud to be part of many organisations’ carbon accounting journey, helping them to navigate the challenges that lie between them and a realistic Net Zero plan. And since we first launched the SmartCarbon Calculator in 2016, we’ve seen a significant number of our clients make genuine progress.
90% of clients are now reporting Scope 3 emissions
If we look back 5 years to 2019 when many local authorities and other public institutions declared a climate emergency and set Net Zero or Carbon Neutrality targets, only 25% of our clients were tracking and reporting on Scope 3 emissions. That is partly due to the fact that compliance requirements prior to 2019 focused largely on Scope 1 and 2 emissions. However, with the introduction of the SBTi Net Zero Corporate Standard, together with public sector procurement requirements, the emphasis placed on Scope 3 emissions has grown dramatically. Today, 90% of the organisations utilising the SmartCarbon Calculator report on Scope 3 emissions.
This is a huge step forward – not least because supply chain emissions can easily account for more than two thirds of an organisation’s overall carbon footprint. Supply chain emissions are, of course, a key factor in Scope 3 emissions. In fact, Government figures suggest that, for a large number of organisations, Scope 3 emissions account for more than 80% of total emissions.
Expanding Scope 3 reporting
Within Scope 3 emissions there are, of course, a number of different emissions categories – 15, in fact, covering upstream and downstream activity. But in 2019, just 18% of organisations were able to report on more than 5 of the Scope 3 categories, almost all of these being upstream. In 2024, almost 80% of our clients using the platform are reporting on more than 5 Scope 3 categories, with a growing number of clients including downstream emissions in their reporting.
Travel and commuting are a greater priority
As well as supply chain reporting, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of organisations reporting on business travel and employee commuting, which is a significant contributor to commercial emissions even in the age of hybrid and remote working.
This demonstrates a clear buy-in from teams across an organisation – from senior leadership to entry level staff.
Guided reporting for responsible organisations
Trusted by organisations across the UK, our SmartCarbon Calculator helps businesses of all sizes and sectors adopt a rigorous approach to carbon accounting, using a science-first approach to carbon reduction in line with leading international standards.
From baseline reporting and carbon reduction planning to compliance and verification, we help businesses demonstrate their commitment to reporting to employees, shareholders and customers alike.