Accelerating the Implementation of Accurate Product-Level Carbon Accounting

Abstract

Addressing climate change requires accurate and timely calculations of greenhouse gas emissions at the level of individual products that are transacted through the economy. Supply chains for almost all products are, however, codependent and even circular, making it practically impossible to get all production worldwide to commence such accurate calculations all at once. To address this implementation challenge, we propose a recursive approach that applies the E-liability algorithm to existing emissions data-sources. We further explain how such data sources must disaggregate information over time, and monitor its validity, to enable progressive improvement in product carbon accounts and intended decarbonizing actions.

Keywords: accounting, climate change, supply chains