Carbon accounting needs a unified approach to help achieve net zero

New research has found that efforts to reach net zero are being undermined by a number of carbon accounting schemes. Research led by academics from the University of Bath shows that multiple systems drive up costs and prevent well-meaning companies from effectively accounting for their carbon emissions, while creating loopholes that can be exploited by others.

It also found that systems that count carbon geographically, within industry groupings or based on consumption or products are limited by allowing emissions to be outsourced from accounts, causing inaccuracies.

The document also calls for and proposes a unified approach that would enable the linking of accounts, meaning that new circular economy processes could be properly reported. (Will McManus, University of Bath, more at phys.org)