Between the lines: linking carbon management to carbon accounting actions in the pursuit of corporate decarbonization

What is it about?

To achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century in line with the Paris Agreement, companies need to urgently adopt decarbonization strategies. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate how businesses implement carbon management and accounting practices together, understanding the factors influencing each and their impact on carbon performance. Researchers categorized these activities into four types—inaction, ineffective, supportive, and effective action—and identified four patterns of decarbonization behavior. Using diverse sampling, the study assessed 22 international companies’ carbon management and carbon accounting practices across various sectors. A qualitative content analysis linked carbon management activities to specific carbon accounting practices. The findings reveal that effective carbon management is closely tied to comprehensive accounting practices, whereas ineffective management correlates with limited accounting use. This study uniquely reveals the interplay between carbon management and accounting, providing a framework for analyzing corporate decarbonization efforts and highlighting the critical role of carbon accounting in monitoring, disclosure, and internal use. The framework offers guidance for future research and management.

Featured Image