The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) is developing the specialist register in partnership with the Carbon Accounting Alliance (CAA), to provide a clear, credible way for individuals and organisations to demonstrate their qualifications and experience in carbon accounting to clients, regulatory bodies, and voluntary reporting schemes.
The Register of Carbon Accountants will promote effective carbon accounting practices by establishing high-quality standards based on the knowledge and experience of professionals in the field.
By becoming a registered carbon accountant, individual professionals or consultancies will demonstrate they meet the industry’s rigorous standards for managing carbon data effectively and ethically, enhance their professional credibility and, crucially, contribute to building trust and transparency in carbon reporting.
The Register will also provide a defined career pathway, offering opportunities for growth and recognition as the demand for skilled carbon accountants continues to rise.
In the first stage of development of the Register, IEMA / CAA have proposed three distinct grades for carbon accountants: Associate, Practitioner, and Principal. Each grade comes with its own set of competencies, tailored to the level of expertise required.
To help ensure that these competencies align with the real-world needs of the profession, carbon accounting professionals are being invited to review the proposed competencies and feed back on whether the levels are appropriately aligned and encompass all key skills required to carry out the roles.
The consultation will run until Monday 21st April, after which the competency matrix will be finalised, incorporating feedback received. IEMA will then be able to set up the assessor panels necessary to review applications to join the Register, and then launch the Register to its membership.
The Register of Carbon Accountants will be part of IEMA’s Specialist Registers portfolio, managed by the Professional Standards team and administered day-to-day by IEMA’s Membership and Standards team. This ensures that the Register maintains the highest level of quality and professionalism.
Martin Baxter, Deputy CEO of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, said:
“The introduction of a Register of Carbon Accountants is a welcome development in the industry in recognising the professionalism of carbon accounting practitioners.
“Through our Specialist Registers, IEMA aims to uphold the highest of professional standards, and build trust and transparency in areas that require high levels of expertise and ethical practice.
“By providing your feedback at this stage, carbon accounting professionals will be instrumental in ensuring that the Register accurately reflects the roles, responsibilities and competencies of carbon accounting practitioners at all levels, and ultimately help to maintain and enhance best practice in this crucial profession.”
Dr Toby Green, Chair of the CAA’s Professionalisation and Training Working Group, said:
“As demand for robust emissions reporting grows, it’s vital that businesses and policymakers can trust the expertise of those carrying out this work. This initiative will help define and uphold rigorous professional standards, giving organisations confidence in the quality of carbon data they rely on for decision-making.
“I encourage all carbon accountants to contribute to this consultation and help shape the future of our profession.”
To review the competency matrix and share your feedback, visit: Shape the Future of Carbon Accounting
