Carbon accounting: A review of the existing models, principles and practical applications

Abstract

The Kyoto Protocol has opened up an international debate about the appearance of different regulations which focus on carbon accounting and reporting. Specifically, the Kyoto Protocol established that the Conference of the Parties shall define the relevant principles, models, rules and guidelines, in particular for verification, reporting and accountability for carbon allowances. As a consequence, many companies remain confused as to the appropriate carbon accounting model. Due to the existing controversies on the topic, the aim of the present work is twofold. Firstly, and from a macroeconomic point of view, this work attempts to analyse the different carbon accounting regulations existing at the international level. Secondly, and from a firm level, describe the main practical carbon accounting principles and applications in different industries. Main results reveal the existence of different approaches at the corporate level in the international context about carbon accounting and reporting. This has several implications from a company point of view, being one of the most important the impact of the carbon accounting model choice on companies’ financial performance.