Introduction to Carbon Accounting Course

Who is it for?

What does the carbon accounting course cover?

Module 1: Introduction to Carbon Accounting

• Understand what's involved in carbon accounting

• Understand the greenhouse effect

• Gain insight into the science behind carbon accounting

• Understand why carbon accounting is important

• Understand different frameworks such as TCFD, GRI and SBTi

• The GHG Protocol

• Glossary

• An Introduction to Carbon Accounting 

• Why the Focus on Carbon Accounting?

• The Greenhouse Gases

• What Does Carbon Accounting Involve?

• The Human-induced Greenhouse Effect

• The Changing Social Landscape

• The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures

• Common Things You've Probably Heard About – Explainer

• Wrap-up

• Quiz

Module 2: Carbon Accounting Framework

• Become aware of the GHG Protocol and understand key principles

• Understand the purpose of the GHG Protocol

• Understand what's involved in an emissions assessment at a high level

• Understand why carbon accounting is important

• Understand different frameworks such as TCFD, GRI and SBTi

• The Corporate Standard

• What Is the GHG Protocol?

• Key Principles

• Setting a Boundary

• The Three 'Scopes'

• Overview of Scope 1

• Overview of Scope 2

• Overview of Scope 3

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

• The Sumday Emissions Factor Database

• Assurance Framework

• Other Frameworks

• Quiz

Module 3: Setting Boundaries

• Understand organisational boundaries and related concepts

• Understand different accounting categories and how the boundaries apply

• Understand operational boundaries and the 3 scopes

• Begin to understand the intricacies of Scope 3 emissions

• The Corporate Standard - Chapter 3 and 4

• Operational and Organisational Boundaries

• Organisational Boundaries

• Considerations for Selecting Equity or Control

• Operational Boundaries

• The Cradle-to-Gate Approach

• Upstream vs. Downstream

• Quiz

Module 4: Scope 1 & 2 Overview

• Understand organisational boundaries and related concepts

• Understand the workpapers prepared under each scope

• Understand how to account for them

• Explore opportunities to reduce them

• GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance

• Template workpapers

• Scope 1 – Direct GHG Emissions

• Stationary Combustion

• Mobile Combustion

• Fugitive Emissions

• Physical or Chemical Processing

• Benefits of Measuring Fuel by Asset

• Leased Assets

• Scope 2 – Electricity Indirect GHG Emissions

• Opportunities from Scope 2 Reduction

• Electricity Generation vs. Distribution

• Accounting for Scope 2 – Location- or Market-based Method

• Calculating Emissions for Scope 2

• Emissions Factors Differences by Region

• Quiz

Module 5: Scope 3 Overview

• Understand what Scope 3 emissions are and how they differ from Scope 1 and 2 emissions

• Understand why we can no longer ignore Scope 3 emissions

• Understand what constitutes Scope 3 emission, and how they can be categorised.

• Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard

• Technical Guidance for Calculating Scope 3 Emissions

• Scope 3 Overview

• Why Account for Scope 3 Supply Chain Emissions?

• How Scope 3 Emissions Differ from Scope 1 and 2 – Recap

• What Constitutes Scope 3 Emissions?

• Primary Emissions vs. Industry Emissions Factors

• Ask the Question

• Scope 3 Workpaper

• Quiz

Module 6: Scope 1 - Mobile Combustion

• Define mobile combustion

• Understand the data required for the assessment

• Understand the calculation of mobile combustion.

• Understand the difference between Scope 1 and Scope 3 mobile combustion.

• Understand the greenhouse gases that are emitted.

• Scope 1 & 2 GHG Inventory Guidance

• National Greenhouse Accounts Factors

• Greenhouse Gas Inventory Guidance: Direct Emissions from Mobile Combustion Sources

• Introduction

• What is Mobile Combustion?

• Collecting Activity Data

• Calculating Mobile Emissions

• Scope 1 vs. Scope 3 Mobile Emissions

• Biofuels

• Mobile Combustion Workpaper

• Quiz

Module 7: Scope 1 - Stationary Combustion

• Develop an understanding of what stationary combustion includes

• Understanding the combustion process

• Understand the calculation of stationary combustion within the framework

• Scope 1 & 2 GHG Inventory Guidance

• Introduction

• The Combustion Process and the Release of CO2

• What About the Other Greenhouse Gases?

• Types of Stationary Combustion Assets

• Collecting Activity Data

• Use of Biofuels

• The Calculation Process

• Quiz

Module 8: Scope 1 - Fugitive and Process Emissions

• Understand fugitive emissions in general

• Formulate an understanding of how to account for fugitive emissions

• Understand the formation of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and chlorofluorocarbons (PFC) greenhouse gases

• Cold Hard Facts 2021: An example of industry average leakage factors from common refrigerant assets in Australia

• IPCC AR5 Report

• What Are Fugitive Emissions?

• Manufacturing vs. Use Phase Emissions

• Collect Activity Data

• Global Warming Potential (GWP)

• The Calculation

• Sources of Fugitive Emissions

• Quiz

Module 9: Purchased Electricity

• Account correctly for emissions from purchased electricity

• Understand the importance of Scope 2 emissions as an emissions source

• Learn about location based and market bases methods

• Scope 2 guidance

• National greenhouse gas account factors

• Scope 2 Overview

• Purchased Electricity as an Emissions Source

• Emissions Factors for Purchased Electricity

• Location-based vs. Market-based

• Calculating Emissions for Scope 2

• Measurement by Generation Source

• What About Solar Panels?

• Quiz

Module 10: Scope 3 – Purchased Goods and Services & Capital Goods

• Understand what the purchased goods and services category looks like, and when to categorise emissions under purchased goods and services.

• Understand how to account for emissions from capital goods

• Explore different calculation methods to calculate emissions from purchased goods and services and capital goods

• GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain Standard

• GHG Protocol Technical Guidance - Scope 3

• US EPA Scope 3 Inventory Guidance

• Refresher on Scope 3 Emissions

• Purchased Goods and Services

• Capital Goods

• Capital Goods and Purchased Goods and Services – How Do They Differ?

• Carbon Accounting for Capital Goods

• Calculation Methods and Reporting Period

• Time Boundaries

• Cradle to Gate

• Quiz

Module 11: Scope 3 – Upstream Transportation and Distribution

• Understand what is included in upstream transportation and distribution

• Understand the different methods of calculating emissions from upstream transportation and distribution

• Understand the importance of setting boundaries when accounting for upstream transportation and distribution

• GHG (Green House Gases) Protocol – Category 4

• DEFRA Emissions Factors

• What Is Included?

• Calculating Emissions from Transportation

• The Fuel-based Method

• The Distance-based Method

• The Spend-based Method

• Calculating Emissions from Distribution

• The Site-specific Method

• The Average Data Method

• The Importance of Setting the Boundary

• Quiz

Module 12: Scope 3 – Waste Generated in Operations

• Develop an understanding of the emissions associated with waste generated in operations

• Understand the difference between waste-based emissions, and emissions coming from transportation of waste

• Chapter 5 of the GHG Protocol Scope 3 Technical Guidance

• GHG Protocol Scope 3 Standard

• Introduction

• Reporting in Future Periods

• Accounting for Waste Generated in Operations

• Waste Treatment Activities

• Accounting for Emissions from Recycling

• Emissions from Incineration with Energy Recovery

• Accounting for Emissions from Wastewater

• What Is the Recycled Content Method?

• Quiz

Module 13: Scope 3 - Business Travel

• Understand what Business Travel expenditures are and when to categorise emissions under this category.

• Understand the three different calculation methods, and learn when to use which method.

• GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain Standard

• GHG Protocol Technical Guidance - Scope 3

• World Resource Institute - Business Travel Working Paper (2021)

• Introduction

• What is Included?

• Calculating Emissions from Business Travel

• The Distance-based Method

• Other Methods

• Quiz

Module 14: Scope 3 – Employee Commuting

• Understand what falls under the employee commuting category under Scope 3.

• Understand the different methods available under the GHG Protocol that can be used to calculate emissions from employee commuting.

• Understand the sources of emission factor data is used to quantify emission-based employee activity data.

• Understand the benefits and opportunities that arise from measuring commuting emissions and from engaging with the workforce on the topic.

• GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain Standard

• GHG Protocol Technical Guidance - Scope 3

• Introduction

• Calculating Emissions from Employee Commuting

• Fuel-Based vs Distance-Based Method

• Average-Data Method

• Working From Home

• Data Collection Practicalities

• Employee commuting matters!

• Quiz

Module 15: Scope 3 – Upstream Leased Assets

• Understand the definition of leased assets

• Understand how the equity and control approaches impact the treatment of leased assets under the GHG Protocol

• Understand calculation methods for leased assets.

• What are Upstream Leased Assets?

• Treatment of Finance vs Operating Leases

• Calculating Emissions From Leased Assets

• Asset-Specific Method

• Lessor-Specific Method

• Average Data Method

• Other Important Considerations

• Quiz

Module 16: Scope 3 – Other Categories

• Understand each of the downstream Scope 3 subcategories at a high level.

• Understand and be able to apply the available calculation methods to quantify emissions from each of the subcategories.

• Be aware of the key challenges associated with quantifying downstream emissions.

• Overview of Downstream Scope 3 Categories

• Downstream Transportation and Distribution

• Processing of Sold Products

• Use of Sold Products

• End-of-Life Treatment of Sold Products

• Downstream Leased Assets

• Franchises

• Investments

• Wrap-up

• Quiz

Module 17: Emissions Intensity Reporting

• Understand the purpose of emissions intensity reporting.

• Learn how to collect the relevant information to report on emissions intensity.

• Understand the guidance around intensity reporting.

• Identify the parallels between management accounting and emissions intensity reporting.

• Learn how an emissions intensity measure can be used as a primary factor.

• Why Report Emissions Intensity?

• How Do You Calculate Emissions Intensity?

• Examples of Intensity Metrics

• Moving from Intensity Metrics to Emissions Factors

• So How Do We Actually Calculate Primary Factors?

• Allocation Methods and Avoiding Allocations

• Activity-based Costing – the OG Emissions Intensity Tool

• Example from the GHG Protocol

• What Are We Actually Doing with the Primary Data?

• Quiz

Module 18: Business Cases - Advisory Work 101

• Understand what a business case is and how carbon accounting is relevant.

• Understand how to read a Marginal Abatement Cost Curve.

• View some examples of typical business cases for emissions reductions.

• Introduction

• What Is a Business Case?

• Relevance of Carbon Accounting to a Business Case

• Risk Mitigation – Climate

• Risk Mitigation – Corporate

• Compliance

• Societal Pressure

• Finding Inefficiencies

• Marginal Abatement Cost Curves

• Marginal Abatement Cost Curves – Example

• Business Case Examples – EV Purchasing

• Business Case Examples – Waste Reduction

• Business Case Examples – Virtual Meetings Instead of Travel

• MAC Curves for Business Cases

• Quiz

Final assessment