Why Businesses Struggle to Track Carbon Emissions (and What to Do About It)
Tracking carbon emissions is no longer optional — it's essential. Yet for many businesses, calculating and reporting Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions under the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol is still confusing, overwhelming, and time-consuming.
As governments, investors, and consumers demand greater climate accountability, the pressure is on. But the good news? With the right tools, guidance, and mindset, any business can start measuring its emissions and move towards meaningful sustainability action.
Why Emissions Tracking Is So Hard
Let’s be honest — most businesses didn’t grow up with carbon reporting in their DNA. The reasons companies struggle to track their emissions include:
Lack of internal expertise on sustainability or climate reporting
Data scattered across departments, suppliers, or systems
Uncertainty about what to measure and how to report it
Complex supply chains that obscure indirect emissions
No clear ownership or responsibility for emissions tracking
Add in the jargon — Scope 1, Scope 2, Scope 3, GHG Protocol — and it’s easy to see why sustainability efforts often stall at the starting line.
What Is the Greenhouse Gas Protocol?
The GHG Protocol is the world’s most widely used framework for measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions. It sets the standard for how businesses account for and report emissions across three categories:
Scope 1: Direct emissions from company-owned sources (e.g. vehicles, on-site fuel combustion)
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heat, or steam
Scope 3: All other indirect emissions across the value chain — including suppliers, business travel, waste, product use, and more
For most businesses, Scope 3 makes up over 70% of total emissions — and is the hardest to measure.
What Happens When You Don’t Track Emissions?
Failing to measure emissions can lead to:
Regulatory risk as carbon reporting becomes mandatory
Investor pushback in ESG-driven funding environments
Lost competitive advantage in sustainability-focused markets
Greenwashing accusations if claims are made without proof
Operational blind spots that hide inefficiencies and waste
How Businesses Can Get on Track
Start with What You Know
Begin by collecting data for Scope 1 and 2. Energy bills, fuel logs, and fleet information are often easier to access.Use a Trusted Framework
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol provides tools, guidance, and methodologies to calculate each scope of emissions.Prioritise Material Scope 3 Categories
Don’t try to do it all at once. Focus on high-impact categories like purchased goods, travel, and transportation.Work With a Sustainability Consultant
An expert can help you identify what data to collect, select the right software tools, and develop a strategy for reporting and reduction.Build Internal Awareness and Ownership
Tracking emissions isn’t just an environmental task — it’s a business strategy. Involve finance, operations, HR, and procurement teams from the start.
Why It’s Worth It
Tracking your emissions is the first step to:
Lowering operational costs through energy and waste efficiencies
Meeting upcoming compliance requirements
Gaining trust from conscious consumers and investors
Future-proofing your business against climate risks
Final Thoughts
Every business has a carbon footprint — and every business can reduce it.
Measuring your Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions under the GHG Protocol may seem complex, but it’s a necessary foundation for credible sustainability action.
If you're unsure where to start, work with a sustainability consultant who can simplify the process, help you interpret your data, and create an actionable roadmap for decarbonisation.
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