What a carbon consultancy does
A carbon consultancy measures an organisation’s greenhouse-gas emissions, reports them in the format each regime requires, and helps reduce them over time.
The footprint is built on the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard1, the international basis for corporate carbon accounting.
For UK reporting, our carbon consultants apply the UK Government (DESNZ) conversion factors2, which are republished each year.
The value of a carbon consultancy is a single, defensible inventory — not a different number for every form.
Scope 1, 2 and 3
The GHG Protocol divides emissions into three scopes.
Most regimes require Scope 1 and 2 and a growing share of Scope 3.
| Scope | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Scope 1 | Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources |
| Scope 2 | Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heat and steam |
| Scope 3 | Value-chain emissions — purchased goods, travel, transport, use of sold products |
Scope 3 is usually the largest and hardest category.
A carbon consultant scopes it pragmatically — material categories first — so the inventory is useful without becoming unmanageable.
Compliance reporting
The inventory is the input to the UK reporting regimes, not a separate exercise.
The same figures feed SECR (SI 2018/1155)3 in the Directors’ Report, the energy data behind ESOS Phase 44, and climate disclosure under UK SRS S2.
Our SECR consultancy and ESOS consultancy pages cover each in detail.
Reduce and neutralise
Measurement is the start, not the end.
A carbon consultancy uses the baseline to prioritise reductions and, where appropriate, support a carbon-neutrality claim.
How we help
As your carbon consultancy, we build the Scope 1, 2 and 3 inventory with our emissions compliance consultants, report it across the regimes that apply, and prepare the figures for assurance.
Carbon Legal is a specialist carbon consultancy, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice.
We launch in Q3 2026 and are booking readiness reviews now.
Frequently asked questions
What does a carbon consultancy do?
A carbon consultancy measures an organisation’s greenhouse-gas emissions, reports them to the standard each regime requires, and helps reduce them. The footprint is built on the GHG Protocol and, for UK reporting, the Government’s annual DESNZ conversion factors. From that inventory, carbon consultants produce SECR, ESOS and UK SRS figures and support carbon-reduction and neutrality plans.
What is the difference between a carbon consultant and a carbon consultancy?
A carbon consultancy is the firm; a carbon consultant is the specialist doing the measurement and reporting. The deliverable is the same: an auditable Scope 1, 2 and 3 inventory and the disclosures that depend on it.
What are Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions?
Under the GHG Protocol, Scope 1 is direct emissions from owned sources, Scope 2 is indirect emissions from purchased energy, and Scope 3 is all other value-chain emissions — purchased goods and services, business travel, transport and more. Most reporting regimes require Scope 1 and 2 and an increasing subset of Scope 3.
Do carbon consultants help with SECR and ESOS?
Yes. The same emissions inventory feeds SECR (energy and carbon in the Directors’ Report under SI 2018/1155) and the energy figures behind ESOS Phase 4. Building one auditable data set avoids measuring the same emissions several times.
How do carbon consultants make a carbon-neutral claim credible?
By following ISO 14068-1:2023, which replaced PAS 2060 from 1 January 2025. The standard requires measured reductions to be prioritised before offsetting, and the claim to be documented — the safest position against greenwashing challenge.