Seminar: Carbon management systems and carbon mitigation

The UWS Sustainability Social Research Group presents this important seminar on 'Carbon Management systems carbon mitigation'.

The paper presented in this seminar proposes a new carbon management system (CMS) comprising ten essential elements from four broad perspectives: carbon governance, carbon operation, emission tracking and reporting, and engagement and disclosure.

This new approach focuses on cross-functional integration, enforcement of proactive strategy and group rather than individual accountability. We then use the Carbon Disclosure Project reports to empirically examine the implementation of systems by large Australian firms and their effects.

The paper presents evidence that, overall, firms with higher quality CMSs have achieved better carbon mitigation. Further, adequate assessment of carbon risk and opportunity, the presence of reduction targets, strength of carbon programs and enhanced external disclosures appear to be the most effective elements in our sample firms.

By combining the governance, internal process, CO2 footprint tracking and communication activities the CMS helps managers improve decision making. The paper also explores implications of the findings for accounting practice and education.