Services · as they stand
What Carbon Legal offers
Carbon Legal is an independent reference on UK carbon and energy reporting, published by Fractional Quest Ltd.
Today it offers three things: sourced guides, a free 15-minute call, and — where it helps — an introduction to independent specialists.
A consultancy service is in development, and this page will say so plainly when that changes.
The free call
Fifteen minutes, no obligation
The call is a conversation about your position: which regimes look likely to apply, what the dates are, and what to do first.
It is with the team behind this network of independent references.
If we are not the right people to help, we will say so.
Book the call, or write to the address on the contact page.
Useful to bring
- Your financial year-end
- Headcount, turnover and balance sheet, group if a parent
- Listing status and category, if listed
- Any public contracts you bid for
- What emissions data you already hold
The guides
Sourced guides, free to read
Every figure, date and threshold in these guides is cited to the instrument that sets it, and each page says what is law and what is only proposed.
Compliance
Carbon compliance
SECR, ESOS, UK ETS, CBAM and UK SRS side by side: who, where, when.
SECR
SECR compliance
Energy and carbon in the directors' report, and the three populations it reaches.
ESOS
ESOS Phase 4
Qualification on 31 December 2026 and notification by 5 December 2027.
UK SRS
UK SRS compliance
UK SRS S1 and S2, and the FCA's final comply-or-explain rules for listed companies.
Measurement
Emissions compliance consultants
Scope 1, 2 and 3 on the GHG Protocol and the UK conversion factors.
Tool
Carbon legislation readiness check
Screen seven UK regimes against your size, listing and activities.
Choosing a provider
Guides to choosing consultancy support
These pages answer what the work involves, which credentials exist and what to ask — whoever you end up hiring.
Buyer’s guide
Sustainability reporting consultants
The UK reporting stack and the credentials that exist.
Buyer’s guide
Net zero consultancy
SBTi targets, PPN 006 carbon reduction plans and claims.
Buyer’s guide
Carbon consultancy
What carbon consultants build and what to ask them.
Buyer’s guide
SECR consultancy
Choosing support for the directors' report disclosure.
Buyer’s guide
ESOS consultants
Lead assessors, the approved registers and the sign-off rules.
Buyer’s guide
UK SRS consultancy
Choosing support for UK SRS S1 and S2 readiness.
What we do not do
The limits, stated plainly
Carbon Legal does not act as an ESOS lead assessor, sign off or submit an ESOS notification, or perform any other statutory step on anyone’s behalf.
It does not provide assurance or verification of emissions data.
It has no clients to cite, and it publishes no prices, because nothing is sold on this site.
Despite the name, Carbon Legal is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
It is not regulated, and holds no accreditation or certification.
Why now
The compliance calendar is moving
The UK SRS S1 and S2 standards were published on 25 February 2026 and are voluntary in themselves.
The FCA’s final rules in PS26/19, published on 30 September 2026 after the CP26/5 consultation, require listed companies in scope to report against UK SRS on a comply-or-explain basis for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027.
The ESOS Phase 4 qualification date is 31 December 2026, and compliance must be notified by 5 December 2027.
For ESOS providers, Climatise, a carbon accounting software company, has published a recorded webinar on Phase 4 workflows: watch the ESOS Phase 4 webinar.
Sources
Primary sources
The dates on this page trace to the instrument’s owner.
- Department for Business and TradeUK SRS S1 and UK SRS S2
Published 25 February 2026 for voluntary use.
- FCAPS26/19: Aligning listed issuers’ sustainability disclosures with international standards (30 September 2026)
The final rules: listed companies in scope report against UK SRS on a comply-or-explain basis for accounting periods starting on or after 1 January 2027.
- FCACP26/5 consultation page
The consultation PS26/19 finalises.
- GOV.UKEnergy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) — guidance
Phase 4 dates and the approved lead assessor registers.