Exploring corporate engagement with carbon management techniques

Longhurst, Jim; Piper, Katherine

Abstract

his paper explores the different ways of managing carbon in organisational settings. It uses a sequential mixed methods approach – literature review, discussions with sustainability thought leaders, and online survey and interviews with company sustainability leaders – to consider and critique the use of the carbon management hierarchy (CMH) by selected corporate bodies in the UK. The derived empirical evidence base enables a triangulated view of current performance and potential improvements. Currently, carbon management models are flawed, being vague in relation to the operational reductions required prior to offsetting and making no mention of Science Based Targets nor the role corporations could play in wider sustainability initiatives. An amended CMH is proposed incorporating wider sustainability initiatives, varying forms of offsets, the inclusion of accounting frameworks and an annual review mechanism to ensure progress towards carbon neutrality. If such a model were to be widely used, it would provide more rapid carbon emissions reductions and mitigation efforts, greater certainty in the authenticity of carbon offsets, wider sustainability impacts and a faster trajectory towards carbon neutrality.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 25, 2021
• Online Publication Date: May 25, 2021
• Publication Date: May 25, 2021
• Deposit Date: Sep 29, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 30, 2021
• Journal: Emerald Open Research
• Publisher: Emerald
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 9
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.35241/emeraldopenres.14024.1
• Keywords: Carbon management hierarchy, carbon offsetting, Science-Based Targets, The Gold Standard, corporate sustainability, climate stability, UK carbon emissions, carbon neutrality
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7441887
• Additional Information: How to cite this article: Piper K and Longhurst J. Exploring corporate engagement with carbon management techniques [version; 1; peer review: awaiting peer review] Emerald Open Research 2021, 3:9 https://doi.org/10.35241/emeraldopenres.14024.1