Do you need a carbon manager?

The carbon reduction targets from the Paris Agreement triggered a tidal wave of sustainability-related regulations affecting businesses over the past few years–from the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) to the Emissions Trading System. So do you now need a carbon manager to keep up? 

What is a carbon manager and what do they do? 

A carbon manager is an individual responsible for the calculation, analysis, and reporting on carbon emissions on a company’s behalf. The role also involves managing carbon credits, acting as a sustainability champion within the company, contributing to the sustainability strategy, and providing emissions-related data to external stakeholders. 

Carbon managers work closely with the sustainability manager or sustainability lead, as well as the executive leadership and other teams to ensure that all relevant emissions are tracked and that the emissions reduction strategy aligns with the company’s overall goals. 

They typically hold qualifications in sustainability and deeply understand the different types of emissions, emissions calculation methodologies, and relevant regulations and measures that companies must comply with. 

Difference between a carbon manager and a sustainability manager

A carbon manager is primarily responsible for managing the carbon emissions measurement, analysis, reporting, and emissions reduction strategy for a company. Whereas a sustainability manager is typically responsible for a company’s entire sustainability strategy, activities, and reporting. 

In small and mid-sized companies, it’s quite common that the sustainability manager or sustainability lead will also act as the carbon manager. Large companies may also follow this approach, but companies in high-emitting industries (such as transport and logistics) often have a dedicated carbon manager (or equivalent role such as carbon coordinator) too.  

Responsibilities of a carbon manager

While it varies from company to company, a carbon manager’s responsibilities can generally be divided into four main areas: 

1. Emissions management and reporting 

Carbon managers are responsible for identifying, monitoring and measuring the company’s CO2 emissions. Using advanced measurement techniques and data analysis, the manager can identify and evaluate emissions from various business processes. 

This enables the company to take targeted and effective action to reduce emissions in the relevant areas. Moreover, regular monitoring of emissions allows the company to understand the progress and the impact of measures taken.

2. Internal sustainability champion

Secondly, the carbon manager acts as an internal advisor and ‘sustainability champion’. By promoting awareness, the manager can involve other employees in reducing carbon emissions, such as by organizing workshops and training sessions and/or encouraging employees to share their ideas for saving energy or optimizing processes.

3. Sustainability strategy

Thirdly, the carbon manager provides important input for the creation and implementation of a sustainability strategy. A clear strategy, based on clear objectives, not only helps the company to become more environmentally friendly, but can also lead to cost efficiency and competitive advantage.

4. External communications on emissions

Last but not least, the carbon manager is a valuable link between the company and its external stakeholders, such as governments and inspection agencies. A carbon manager can take responsibility for the communication, prepare reports and ensure that the requirements of relevant certification and compliance programmes are met. 

This not only ensures transparency, but can also enhance the company’s image and generate new business opportunities.

How carbon accounting software makes emissions calculation faster and simpler—whether you have a carbon manager or not

Whether it is necessary to appoint a new, full-time carbon manager or whether the tasks can be handled by an existing employee will depend on the size and complexity of the company. But one thing is clear: carbon accounting software will make emissions management a lot easier either way. 

The best carbon accounting software automatically collects data to calculate the total CO2 emissions emitted by a company, and makes analyzing and reporting on this data hassle-free. 

BigMile is the platform of choice for 300+ logistics and transport companies,like RICOH, Murata, and De Rijke Group who use our platform to calculate their carbon footprint, reduce their emissions, provide customized reports to clients, and comply with regulations like the CSRD.

Want to learn more about how to get started with carbon accounting? Book a call with one of our sustainability experts.