Introduction to Carbon Accounting - For Business Stakeholders

Designed for other business stakeholders that require context and want to build internal knowledge on the why and how of carbon accounting

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for other business stakeholders that require context and want to build internal knowledge on they why and how of carbon accounting. Sumday’s CEO, Jessica Richmond, and COO, Lindsay Ellis, will discuss why businesses are carbon accounting, what data is needed, and the practical steps on how to approach it.

What does the carbon accounting for businesses course cover?

10 Chapters with short videos and notes. The course is designed to be self-paced, we estimate each chapter will take 15-30 minutes, in total taking around 2-4 hours to complete the course.

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Course Content - 10 Modules

Module 1: Carbon Accounting for businesses - why?

Video: 7 minutes total - 2 videos

Chapters: 7

Module Objectives:

  • Understand why businesses are starting to embed carbon accounting
  • Become aware of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Scope 1, 2, and 3
  • Become aware of the GHG Protocol

Additional Reading:

  • The GHG Protocol
  • Science Based Targets Initiative Net Zero Standard
  • ISSB Global Sustainability Disclosure Standards

Chapters:

  • First things first - what is carbon accounting?
  • The why
  • The New Era of Carbon Accounting
  • The GHG Protocol and Global Standards
  • The Three 'Scopes’
  • Quiz

Module 2: The data you'll need and where to find it, an overview

Video: 8 Minutes

Chapters: 5

Module Objectives:

  • Understand what data is needed for Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions
  • Become aware of the spend-based and activity-based methods

Additional Reading:

  • The GHG Protocol
  • Getting Ready for Carbon Accounting
  • Scope 3 Guidance: Purchase Goods and Services

Chapters:

  • The data you'll need and where to find it, an overview from Jess & Lindsay
  • The Calculation - How it works
  • The Carbon Ledger - Carbon Bookkeeping
  • Getting good quality data - it's going to be a journey, together
  • Quiz

Module 3: Managing fuel data

Video: 3 Minutes

Chapters: 2

Module Objectives:

  • Understand Scope 1 - Direct GHG emissions
  • Understand the relevant activity data required to be collected

Chapters:

  • An overview from Lindsay
  • Quiz

Module 4: Why on earth do you need data on fridge models?!

Video: 6 Minutes

Chapters: 4

Module Objectives:

  • Understand fugitive emissions
  • Understand the relevant activity data required to be collected

Additional Reading:

  • US EPA GHG Inventory Guidance: FugitiveΒ Emissions: Guidance from the US EPA on accounting for fugitive emissions within a GHG inventory.
  • IPCC AR5 Report:Β This is the source of the Global Warming Potential (GWP) for greenhouse gases which is a key input in quantifying the CO2e from various greenhouse gases.
  • Cold Hard Facts 2021:Β An example of industry average leakage factors from common refrigerant assets in Australia.
  • Measuring emissions: A guide for organisations: 2022 detailed guide:Β New Zealand Government guidance including the relevant approach to accounting for fugitive emissions.

Chapters:

  • So why do we need to tell our accountants what fridge model we use?
  • Fugitive emissions
  • Where to collect the data?
  • Quiz

Module 5: Scope 2 - Electricity

Video: 6 Minutes

Chapters: 4

Module Objectives:

  • Understand Scope 2 emissions
  • Understand the relevant activity data required to be collected

Optional Reading:

  • Scope 2 Guidance – Guidance documentation from the GHG protocol addressing calculation of Scope 2 emissions.
  • Scope 2 Guidance Video from the GHG Protocol – Video content from the World Resources Institute providing context on the Scope 2 Guidance document.
  • Australian National Greenhouse Gas Accounts Factors 2022 – Australian emissions factors including location-based emissions factors by state.
  • National Energy Market Data Dashboard – Dashboard showing the historic energy mix for each of the state electricity grids within the National Energy Market (NEM).
  • New Zealand Government Emissions Guidelines – EΒ missions factor guidance around transport emissions.

Chapters:

  • What's the spark about?
  • So what about renewables?
  • The opportunities and the benefit
  • Quiz

Module 6: Scope 3 Emissions - How does it all work?

Video: 11 minutes total - 2 videos

Chapters: 6

Module Objectives:

  • Understand Scope 3 emissions
  • Understand the relevant activity data required to be collected

Chapters:

  • What are Scope 3 Emissions?
  • Coding invoices in a new way
  • The Carbon Ledger - where the carbon bookkeeping happens
  • Why Activity Data?
  • Quiz

Module 7: Supplier Engagement

Video: 6 minutes

Chapters: 6

Module Objectives:

  • Understand the why behind supplier engagement
  • Define the supplier-specific method for calculating carbon emissions
  • Describe the practical approaches to engage with suppliers

Chapters:

  • What is Supplier Engagement and why should I do this?
  • The Supplier-Specific Method
  • Ask the Question
  • How can Sumday help?
  • Quiz

Module 8: Scope 3 Emissions - Employee commute, WFH and Business Travel

Video: 18 minutes total - 3 videos

Chapters: 13

Module Objectives:

  • Understand emissions relating to Employee Commute, Working from Home and Business Travel activities
  • Define the specific accounting methods available under the standards to quantify the emissions from these sources
  • Describe the practical approaches to gather the data required to account for these emissions sources

Chapters:

  • What are we learning in this chapter?
  • Employee Commute
  • How do we calculate Employee Commute emissions?
  • Fuel-Based and Distance-Based Method
  • The Average-Data Method
  • Employee WFH
  • Data Collection Practicalities - Using Surveys!
  • Business Travel
  • How do we calculate Business Travel emissions?
  • The Distance-Based Method for Business Travel
  • Other methods for Business Travel
  • Quiz
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Module 9: What other data might you be asked about?

Video: 1 minute

Chapters: 10

Module Objectives:

  • Understand the other categories of scope 3 emissions
  • Define the specific accounting methods available under the standards to quantify the emissions from these sources
  • Describe the practical approaches to gather the data required to account for these emissions sources

Chapters:

  • What are we learning in this chapter?
  • Purchased Goods and Services
  • Capital Goods
  • Fuel and Energy related emissions
  • Transport and Distribution
  • Waste Generated in Operations
  • Leased Assets
  • Emissions from Sold Products
  • Summary
  • Quiz
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Module 10: The wrap up

Video: 2 minutes

Chapters: 2

Chapters:

  • Thank you for joining us!
  • Key Takeaways
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