13 April 2026
The first cohort of professionals to gain a new qualification in carbon accounting are now urging others within the profession to do the same, via training course which aims to improve the accuracy and credibility of corporate emissions reporting, accredited by the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP).
The Technical Associate in Carbon Accounting qualification was developed by ISEP to ensure practitioners have the technical competencies needed to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions accurately. With the qualification, entry-level carbon accountants will also be certified to appear on the Register of Carbon Accountants and Auditors, giving organisations access to trusted specialists.
Delivered by four accredited course providers – Auditel, MyCarbon, ClimateEQ and Arthian – the programme will also lead to the creation of a Register of Carbon Accountants and Auditors, giving organisations access to trusted specialists.
It follows the news that ISEP published its updated Greenhouse Gas Management Hierarchy last week, providing organisations with a clear, practical framework for reducing carbon emissions – including transitioning away from fossil fuels.
In December 2025, Auditel delivered the first ISEP-accredited Introduction to Carbon Accounting course in a 5-day in-person classroom setting, taking learners through the competency framework with confidence. The first cohort – a group of six carbon accounting practitioners – graduated with ISEP Certified Technical Associate Carbon Accountant status, reinforcing their expertise and reliability.
Bhalin Ramabhadran, a Cost, Procurement and Carbon Solutions Specialist at Auditel, was one of the first course participants. He said: “The availability of a structured carbon accounting course accredited by a respected body such as ISEP is an important milestone in bringing greater rigour and consistency to the carbon accounting profession.
“The programme delivered by Auditel was comprehensive and provided a clear, practical framework for understanding and applying carbon accounting in real-world scenarios. The trainer’s depth of knowledge and passion for the subject made the learning experience both smooth and highly engaging.
“I am proud to be among the first certified Technical Associate Carbon Accountants in the UK, and excited to support organisations on their measurable journey toward Net Zero.”
As businesses race to deliver on net-zero commitments, the demand for robust emissions data has grown rapidly. But carbon accounting is complex, and errors are common. From incomplete supply chain data to incorrect emission factors and inconsistent reporting boundaries, mistakes can undermine corporate climate strategies and fuel scepticism about whether companies are genuinely reducing emissions.
Some of the most common carbon accounting errors [Oakdene Hollins] include:
Underestimating Scope 3 Emissions – which often represent the largest portion of an organisation’s total footprint
Relying on generic emission factors – incorrect or old data to convert activity data (e.g. kWh) into CO2 equivalents fail to reflect true regional or fuel-specific impacts
Overlooking data gaps or quality issues – including from suppliers, which can lead to outdated assumptions and lack of credibility in claims
Neglecting operational boundaries – sometimes leading to omissions or double counting of emissions
Failing to link carbon data to business strategy – if carbon accounting is a compliance exercise rather than a strategic decision-making tool, opportunities to reduce emissions can be missed.
Richard Lupo FISEP CEnv, Managing Director at consultancy SHIFT Environment, said: “We’ve seen some worrying examples of poor carbon reporting in recent years. One company measured its emissions per metre of office space – which is a meaningless way to track carbon performance. Another used fuel data but applied outdated conversion factors that made their totals inaccurate.
“We often see reports showing zero emissions from electricity simply because the business buys ‘green’ energy, even though official rules require you to report based on your actual grid location. Others have got their maths wrong by using the wrong conversion factors entirely or claimed offsets without any record of how much they offset. In some cases, there isn’t even an audit trail showing where the numbers came from.
“Many SECR reports also focus on glossy graphs instead of clear data tables and miss mandatory elements like business mileage. These mistakes might seem small, but together they mean companies can’t trust their own figures – and that’s exactly why we need professional standards and qualified carbon accountants.”
Inaccurate emissions reporting can lead to regulatory scrutiny, accusations of greenwashing and reputational damage if climate claims are found to be misleading.
The new qualification is designed to raise standards by aligning practitioners with frameworks such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and establishing a recognised level of competence across the profession.
“Carbon accounting is now central to how organisations plan their transition to net zero, but it’s a highly technical discipline,” said Edward Brown, Senior Training and Development Manager at ISEP. “The profession is quite fragmented, partly because it developed quickly in response to climate commitments, but without the decades of standardisation, qualifications and regulation that exist in adjacent fields like financial accounting.
“This course is designed to provide consistency, equipping practitioners with the technical knowledge they need to get carbon accounting right and to give organisations confidence in the people doing that work.”
Course learners with Climate EQ are currently working their way through the course material at their own pace. Anthony Daly, Director of ClimateEQ, said: “We know that awareness isn’t necessarily the current challenge with carbon accounting – it’s capability.
“Our Technical Associate Carbon Accountant (TACA) course is delivered as flexible, self-paced online learning, enabling busy professionals to build real carbon accounting expertise alongside their day-to-day roles. It equips teams to calculate Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, apply global standards, and produce audit-ready reports, reducing costs and reliance on external consultants, and accelerating auditable and credible net zero action.”
ISEP says the qualification will help build the skilled workforce needed to support credible, data-driven pathways to net zero.
The Register of Carbon Accountants and Auditors will set out clear professional carbon accounting grades – Technical Associate, Registered Practitioner, Principal, and Auditor – supported by defined competencies, assessment, and accreditation pathways. It will enable individuals to demonstrate verified qualifications and experience to clients, employers, regulators, and voluntary initiatives such as the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).
Xuecheng Wang, Head of Environmental Analysis at Pilbrow & Partners
“The course content is well structured and clearly explained. The flexibility of the online format is perfect for balancing work and self-learning and the team at ClimateEQ are very knowledgeable and quick to respond to queries. The course has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of carbon accounting principles for organisations, products and projects.”
Baljeet Nagi, Business Transformation and Sustainability Consultant. (ex senior Director- Oracle)
“I started my ISEP Technical Carbon Accounting course (TACA) with ClimateEQ in March 2026 to strengthen my knowledge in sustainability and supply chain transformation, to help organisations meet regulatory and reporting requirements. The standout feature of the course is the flexible, self-paced learning, ideal for fitting around work and personal commitments. The course is well structured, with clear explanations, practical exercises, and real-world examples. The feedback on assessments is particularly valuable, helping you understand not just what’s wrong, but why.
“Overall, it’s an engaging and practical course that builds real confidence in carbon accounting and reporting. Plus, the tutors regularly check in on you to see if you need any help, which is really valuable”
Simon Coates, Cost, Procurement and Carbon Consultant at Auditel
“The ISEP accredited Technical Associate Carbon Accountant course was an invaluable investment in my professional development, bridging the gap between theoretical sustainability goals and practical, audit-ready carbon accounting.
“The training delivered by Auditel provided a comprehensive, high-standard foundation in GHG Protocol and ISO standards, enabling me to confidently identify Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions while understanding the nuances of data materiality and uncertainty. Through interactive, expert-led sessions, I gained the practical skills to build robust carbon inventories and develop defensible GHG methodology reports. Beyond the technical knowledge, the course significantly boosted my capability to interpret regulatory reporting frameworks and communicate complex carbon data to stakeholders with integrity, setting me up perfectly for professional recognition on the ISEP Register.”
Fiona Steels, Director of Network Support at Auditel
“Attending Auditel’s Carbon Accountant training was a transformative experience. The course was expertly structured, and Rob Allison’s clear, passionate delivery brought real meaning to the importance of accurate carbon accounting. I left with a strong sense of confidence and purpose, ready to apply this knowledge in a way that drives meaningful change.
“Becoming one of the first certified Technical Associate Carbon Accountants in the UK is a milestone I am truly proud of, and I am excited to help organisations take credible, measurable steps toward a more sustainable future.”
