In response to the global climate crisis, more and more governments are implementing carbon emissions disclosure schemes. As a result, organizations often need a carbon software solution to simplify emissions data collection and reporting.
There are various types of software available to help you collect, track, manage, and/or report carbon emissions. The functionality varied from one solution to another, and depending on the needs of your organization, each has its own unique pros and cons.
To help you select the most appropriate option for your organization, AMCS has compiled the following guide to the different types of carbon software available, including their scope, functionality and limitations.
CSR software
Although most Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) software has traditionally focused on managing philanthropic programs and volunteer efforts, in recent years, many CSR software providers have added emissions tracking to their offering. This allows organizations to track and share the progress of their CSR program, including carbon emissions disclosures.
However, while these CSR software solutions offer some convenience, their carbon tracking capabilities are generally not purpose-built for comprehensive emissions monitoring and reporting. This can result in compliance challenges or limited functionality when it comes to detailed carbon accounting.
carbon accounting software
Calculating your organization’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can be complex. Carbon accounting software simplifies this process by compiling emissions from fuel consumption, energy use, transport, and production processes, and other sources such as supply chain activities or investment portfolios.
The main advantage of carbon accounting software is that it is purpose-built to account for GHG emissions across your organization. However, some carbon accounting software are limited because they do not provide support for organizational strategy or management. As a result, organizations may still struggle with knowing how to reduce their emissions or effectively pursue their overall sustainability or Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals.
Types of carbon accounting software:
- Carbon tracking software
- Carbon reporting software
- Carbon footprint software
carbon emissions management software
Unlike carbon accounting software, which is purely used for emissions monitoring and data collection, carbon management software goes one step further to assist with planning, decision-making, historical data analysis, and scenario forecasting.
Sometimes referred to as GHG emissions software or GHG management software, it enables organizations to tackle the strategic side of managing their carbon footprint, supporting them to reduce their carbon emissions and reap the benefits of doing so.
Like carbon accounting software, it can only help organizations to calculate the entire carbon footprint and does not cover other issues related to sustainability or ESG. This means users will need other solutions to manage the rest of their ESG and sustainability programs.
sustainability software
Sustainability software, allows you to monitor, manage, and evaluate your entire sustainability program, not just carbon emissions. It helps you understand your organization’s impacts through operational data, as well as streamlining key environmental compliance and data management processes.
Some sustainability software combines the features of carbon management software with the broader functionality of CSR software to provide users with a single, holistic solution to manage both carbon emissions and other sustainability efforts.
Types of sustainability software:
- Sustainability Reporting Software
- Sustainability Management Software
- Sustainability Tracking Software
- Corporate Sustainability Software
- Environmental Sustainability Software
ESG software
ESG software helps streamline data collection and calculate impacts through the various metrics included in recognized environment, social, and governance (ESG) standards and frameworks. It covers a wide range of elements, with the environmental component often including carbon emissions, in addition to things like waste management and water stewardship, and more.
Designed to provide a comprehensive software solution, ESG software enables organizations to track far more than just carbon emissions. Ideally, it will collect, track, manage, and report on all aspects of ESG and sustainability to support effective climate disclosures, corporate philanthropy strategies, and stakeholder engagement.
This allows users to take control of their entire ESG program with one sustainable product, that can support both current and future impact goals.
Types of ESG Software
- ESG Reporting Software
- ESG Data Management Software
- ESG Compliance Software
- ESG Tracking Software
finding the right carbon software partner
Your journey with carbon accounting and reporting is not static; it’s an ongoing process with regular updates required for leadership and investors. Not only that, but standards, frameworks, and methodologies continue to evolve so staying up to date can be a time-consuming process.
For this reason, many organizations and investors are looking for a sustainability partner like AMCS which can streamline carbon emissions calculations and keep them up-to-date on ESG reporting. Our cloud-based ESG Solution helps you manage all these elements with seamless tools to:
- Establish a credible GHG inventory
- Predict the best strategy to reduce carbon emissions
- Reduce carbon accounting costs
- Streamline emissions disclosure
Need help with your carbon accounting? AMCS has tracked over 20 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions for customers to date by automating both data capture and calculations, helping them take control of their impacts and report to climate frameworks and commitments. Click here to request a demo and learn what our flexible platform can do for you.