Accounting for carbon

The Climate Change Act 2008 requires the government to introduce legislation by 2012 for mandatory reporting of carbon emissions. Therefore organisations need to be aware of what they need to do to prepare for carbon reporting and start collecting baseline data.

Product and service carbon footprints are beginning to influence consumer purchasing decisions and so organisations need to be able to calculate them. Some organisations are requesting carbon reporting throughout their supply chain.

The course demonstrates how to produce a corporate carbon footprint, a corporate carbon report and a product or service carbon footprint, with examples and exercises. It also gives an overview of all the current and pending UK carbon legislation.

Accountants including finance directors, senior managers and those who have an interest in reporting their carbon emissions. 

• An understanding of the implications of the Climate Change Act 2008 for corporate reporting.
• An up-to-date understanding of the carbon reporting legislation, which will be introduced in 2012.
• How to prepare and present an organisation's carbon report based on government guidance.
• An understanding of the different standards for carbon footprinting.
• How to calculate a corporate carbon footprint.
• How to calculate a product or service carbon footprint.

Jean-François Lowes BSc, MBA, ACMA, CGMA has worked as a management consultant and trainer for nine years following 15 years in financial management. He has worked for Boots the Chemists, Egg, Reuters, Safeways, Harveys of Bristol and the Carbon Trust in a variety of finance and project management roles. He has extensive experience of risk management, carbon accounting and strategic change.

Jon Malcolm BSc MBA DipM worked for several years in the energy sector, but since 2005 has concentrated on carbon related areas. He is founder of Xcarbon Limited, a consultancy which helps organisations reduce their carbon emissions.

Jean-François and Jon are currently carrying out carbon-related consulting for two major hotel groups and a premiership football club.

9.00 am Registration and coffee

9.30 am Start of course

 Why carbon matters to business

• Driving forces
• Government policy and the transition to the low carbon economy

UK carbon legislation

• Climate Change Levy and Climate Change Agreements
• CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme
• EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS)
• Climate Change Act 2008
• Carbon reporting under the Companies Act 2006

Corporate carbon footprints

• Scopes 1, 2 and 3
• Certification, Carbon Trust Standard and CEMARS
• GHG Protocol
• BS 16001
• ISO 14064
• Implications for business strategy

Carbon emissions reporting

• Defra/DECC guidance on greenhouse gas reporting
• Examples of greenhouse gas reports
• Carbon Disclosure Project

Carbon risk reporting

• Identification and evaluation of carbon risks
• Supply chain risks

Product and service carbon footprints

• Standards including PAS 2050, BS 8901
• Definitions and measurement

There are three exercises during the day to practise the calculations.

5.00 pm End of course

6 CPD hours (where applicable)

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