Carbon accounting isn’t just about compliance — it’s about credibility. As net zero commitments accelerate and standards like the SBTi become the benchmark for serious climate action, organizations are under intense scrutiny from regulators, investors, customers, and ratings agencies alike.
Simply put: Manual tracking and fragmented data simply won’t cut it anymore.
In 2025, it is essential for companies to find the best carbon accounting software to comply with climate regulations, reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and take meaningful steps toward net zero.
To meet the moment, companies need a powerful, audit-ready carbon accounting system that does more than measure emissions — it needs to drive strategy. The right solution will help you manage Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions at scale, align with evolving frameworks like CSRD, ISSB, and the GHG Protocol, and provide the transparency your stakeholders demand.
Whether you're responding to regulatory pressure or aligning with global expectations around climate action, the right GHG accounting software can help you collect emissions data, generate audit-ready reports, and take action that’s both impactful and measurable.
In today’s climate-conscious economy, adopting advanced carbon accounting platforms is critical for comprehensive emissions tracking.
What is carbon accounting software?
Carbon accounting software is a digital tool that helps organizations calculate, track, and manage greenhouse gas emissions across their operations and value chains.
Often aligned with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, these platforms break down emissions into three main categories:
- Scope 1: Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources
- Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heat, or steam
- Scope 3: All other indirect emissions, including supply chain activities, business travel, and product usage
This type of software is foundational for modern sustainability programs. By automating complex data collection processes, carbon accounting tools replace error-prone spreadsheets and simplify environmental reporting. They enable businesses to turn raw data into insights, which can inform decarbonization strategies, support science-based targets (SBTi), drive operational improvements, and decrease risk management overtime.
The best solutions help companies meet key sustainability goals using real-time data around GHG emissions. They also offer reporting capabilities that turn data into actionable insights, helping companies improve their sustainability efforts.
Crucially, these platforms don't just provide carbon footprint metrics — they offer the infrastructure for ongoing climate management and for making more informed decisions in the goal of hitting or surpassing reduction targets.
Why businesses need carbon accounting tools now
Carbon accounting has evolved from a voluntary best practice into a strategic business requirement. Pressure is mounting from every direction — regulators, investors, customers, ratings agencies, and even internal leadership — to disclose accurate, auditable emissions data and demonstrate progress toward climate goals.
Regulatory compliance is one of the most immediate catalysts. Legislations like the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and California’s SB-253 are setting strict requirements for how companies measure, report, and verify their greenhouse gas emissions. Non-compliance isn’t just a reputational risk—it could lead to legal and financial penalties.
At the same time, global frameworks like the GHG Protocol, ISSB, TCFD, and SBTi are becoming the de facto standards investors and ratings agencies use to evaluate climate-related risk and opportunity.
Customers are also scrutinizing value chain emissions more than ever, especially Scope 3, and favoring businesses that show real climate accountability.
Here’s why organizations of all sizes are turning to carbon accounting platforms in 2025:
- Regulatory compliance: Automate emissions tracking and generate reports aligned with CSRD, SB-253, and other mandatory frameworks.
- Investor and ratings alignment: Provide transparency and credibility using standards like ISSB, TCFD, and SBTi.
Customer trust and procurement pressure: Meet sustainability expectations from buyers and supply chain partners. - Data transparency: Centralize carbon emissions data to increase accuracy, traceability, and cross-functional visibility.
Strategic decarbonization: Identify emissions hotspots, model reduction scenarios, and chart a path to net zero. - Operational efficiency: Uncover inefficiencies and cost-saving opportunities tied to energy and resource use.
Audit-readiness: Simplify third-party verification and reduce risk with automated, traceable reporting.
Even if you're early in your climate journey, establishing a centralized, scalable carbon accounting solution today ensures your organization can adapt quickly as regulations tighten, expectations evolve, and climate leadership becomes a core business advantage.
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The 15 best carbon accounting software tools in 2025
There are any number of carbon-related software solutions on the market, but only a handful truly have the functionalities and the ease of use that would put them in the “best” category, but these 15 tools have secured their rightful place on that list.
1. Pulsora
Who are they? Pulsora is an all-in-one carbon accounting and sustainability management platform designed to help organizations measure, manage, and reduce their emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3.
With automated data collection, advanced analytics, and built-in compliance features, Pulsora enables businesses to achieve their sustainability initiatives and generate audit-ready reports aligned with reporting standards and frameworks like CSRD, ISSB, and the GHG Protocol. Our platform goes beyond tracking alone to deliver deep insights into emissions hotspots, model decarbonization scenarios, emissions reduction strategies — empowering sustainability teams to drive real impact across their entire value chain.
Features they offer:
- Flexible org hierarchy
- Auditability and transparency across every datapoint
- Native build with end-to-end ESG platform
- Intelligent decarbonization planning using PulsoraAI
Clients of note:
- Molson-Coors
- Socfin
- ANWR Group
- CompuGroup Medical
- Workday
2. Watershed
Who are they? Watershed’s end-to-end sustainability solution is customizable for global operations, with a deep focus on decarbonization and high-quality carbon removal.
Features they offer:
- Scope 1–3 and lifecycle analysis (LCA) support
- CDP and SBTi-aligned reporting outputs
- Expert-led advisory model with limited transparency
- Polished dashboards and deliverables for exec and investor audiences
Clients of note:
- Roche
- KKR
- Etsy
- Dollar Tree
3. Microsoft
Who are they? Microsoft’s Cloud for Sustainability includes emissions measurement and reporting as a feature in their ESG solution. While great for enterprises with existing partnerships with Microsoft and established Azure infrastructure throughout their organization, it’s not a seamless implementation for every organization.
Features they offer:
- Scope 1 and 2 with growing support for Scope 3
- Built-in reporting modules
- Value chain data analysis
- OpenAI built-in integration
Clients of note:
- Las Vegas Raiders
- HTC
- Kingfisher
- Cosmo
4. Plan A
Who are they? Plan A is a certified sustainability platform supporting companies on their mission to reach net-zero emissions and streamline their emissions reporting.
Features they offer:
- Measure emission factors across Scopes 1, 2, and 3
- Scenario modeling and simulated decarbonization pathways
- Supplier engagement tools
- Integrations with mandatory and voluntary frameworks
Clients of note:
- Sorare
- Blisce
- Payhawk
- Mollie
5. Sweep
Who are they? Sweep places an emphasis on collaborative carbon accounting across large, distributed teams and supply chains.
Features they offer:
- Scope 1–3 coverage
- Data visualization
- Science-based targets
- Simulation capabilities
Clients of note:
- Swisscom
- Bouygues
- Sanofi
- Royal Canin
6. Sphera
Who are they? Sphera provides sustainability risk and performance management for enterprises in a broad range of industries.
Features they offer:
- LCA calculations
- Carbon hotspot identification
- Emission reduction strategies
- Decarbonization tracking metrics
Clients of note:
- Dow
- Siemends
- Kinder Morgan
- Texaco
7. Novata
Who are they? Novata offers carbon accounting and management as part of their broader sustainability software solution.
Features they offer:
- Calculated GHG emissions
- Calculated financed emissions
- Climate target tracking
- Climate regulation alignment
Clients of note:
- Antler
- Hamilton Lane
- Trivest
- Lightrock
8. IBM Envizi
Who are they? IBM’s Environmental Intelligence Suite leverages artificial intelligence to deliver climate change risk insights, helping large enterprises anticipate their energy consumption and future carbon emissions.
Features they offer:
- Enterprise-grade data structure
- Ready-to-use APIs
- Broad compatibility across programming languages
- Scalable data sets
9. SAP Sustainability Solutions
Who are they? SAP delivers solutions for monitoring and managing sustainability performance, including emissions management, with rising adoption across regions despite differing climate regulations.
Features they offer:
- Carbon and financial data integration via SAP Green Ledger
- Full Scope 1–3 footprint tracking across products and operations
- Deep ERP integration for accurate, real-time emissions insights
Built-in support for CSRD and ISSB-aligned sustainability reporting
Clients of note:
- Ambipar
- Bluetriton
- San Pablo Farmacia
- Matsumoto
10. Persefoni
Who are they? Persefoni is an enterprise sustainability solution that offers audit-grade carbon and climate disclosure, especially in regulated markets. They have a deep alignment with disclosure frameworks and offer tools to help companies achieve decarbonization.
Features they offer:
- Financed emissions
- Self-service
- Climate scenario modeling
- AI-powered error detection
Clients of note:
- Wesco
- TPG
- Regency Centers
- Burlington
11. Enablon
Who are they? Coolset’s automated carbon accounting software helps businesses measure, analyze, reduce, and remove emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3, while also supporting CSRD compliance.
Features they offer:
- Precise Scope 1 and 2 tracking
- Integrated net-zero planning and progress management tools
- Unified platform for EHS, carbon, and risk management
- Good for high-risk industries
Clients of note:
- SoCalGas
- Suncor
- CEPSA
- Colonial Pipeline
12. Cority
Who are they? Cority is a ESG and climate platform built for large enterprises, enabling them to measure, report, and reduce carbon emissions while maintaining compliance with international sustainability regulations.
Features they offer:
- Track air, waste, chemical, and water management
- Scalable software solutions
- Scope 1, 2, & 3 analysis
Clients of note:
- Volvo
- Seattle City Light
- Rio Tinto
- Unilever
13. Salesforce
Who are they? Salesforce’s Net Zero Cloud is built for companies already using Salesforce products, especially CRM and ERP integrations.
Features they offer:
- Emissions tracking
- ESG benchmarking
- Supplier engagement tools
- Scope 1, 2, and 3 alignment
Clients of note:
- Telus
- MillerKnoll
- Breitling
- Rossignol
14. SINAI Technologies
Who are they? SINAI combines carbon accounting with economic modeling and decarbonization strategy. While a powerful tool for carbon accounting specifically, more large enterprises are looking for end-to-end sustainability solutions that include carbon accounting and management within it.
Features they offer:
- Scenario analysis
- Internal carbon pricing
- Science-based targets
- Forecasting tools
Clients of note:
- Natura
- BMO
- Arcelor Mittal
- PEM
15. Workiva
Who are they? Workiva’s carbon accounting solutions are a newer offering, added recently after their acquisition of SustainLife, to their broad ESG and sustainability management solutions.
Features they offer:
- Voluntary framework alignment
- ESG Explorer to compare multiple guidelines at once
- End-to-end sustainability management with ESG solution
Clients of note:
- Santander
- New York Life
- Hershey
- Robinhood
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Features to look for in the best carbon accounting software
Not all carbon accounting platforms are built to handle the complexity, scale, and demands of enterprise sustainability today. As expectations rise from regulators, investors, and internal stakeholders, your software needs to go beyond the basics. Here’s what to look for:
Complete Scope 1, 2, and 3 coverage with cascading data collection
Look for tools that not only support all emissions scopes but also enable structured data collection across subsidiaries, business units, facilities, and even suppliers and customers — ensuring a unified carbon footprint across the value chain.
Supplier data integration and hotspot analytics
Effective platforms should support supplier carbon data collection and offer hotspot analytics to identify emissions drivers across your value chain, critical for tackling Scope 3 and improving supplier engagement on sustainability.
Gap-filling and estimation tools
No data? No problem. Choose software with built-in emissions estimations and activity-based calculations to close data gaps and maintain reporting continuity.
Offset management and renewable energy tracking
Top-tier platforms allow you to manage carbon offsets and track renewable energy credits or Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs), giving you a full picture of your emissions and reductions strategy and optimizing their allocation.
AI-driven decarbonization and SBTi target planning
Modern carbon tools should go beyond reporting. Look for platforms with AI-powered decarbonization planning, scenario modeling, and tools to set and track science-based targets (SBTi-aligned).
Audit-ready reporting and workflow controls
Configurable reporting workflows, exportable audit packages, and multi-level approval structures are must-haves for compliance, internal governance, and third-party assurance.
Activity-level transparency and emission factor visibility
Ensure the platform shows which emission factors were used (standard or custom) at the activity level—so you know exactly how every number was calculated and can back it up for any internal or external audit conversation.
Dynamic, standards-aligned reporting
You’ll need dynamic report generation tools that automatically reflect the latest data and align with leading standards like GHG Protocol, CDP, and CSRD, saving time and reducing errors.
Beyond carbon: water, waste, and more
Some of the most valuable platforms don’t stop at carbon. Dashboards for water and waste can help you manage broader environmental performance and climate risk all in one place.
How to choose the right carbon accounting software
Making the right choice starts with clarifying your specific needs. Ask yourself:
- What’s the scope of emissions I need to measure (just Scope 1 and 2, or full Scope 3)?
- Am I prioritizing regulatory compliance, operational reduction, business strategy, or a combination?
- Do I need integrations with my current systems or supplier data?
- How technical is my internal team? Furthermore, will you need advisory support from a solution, or just a tool to support your internal domain experience?
- What’s my budget and timeline?
You’ll also want to review case studies, seek user feedback, and request live demos.
If you’re comparing multiple vendors, building a structured RFP (Request for Proposal) will help you assess providers fairly and ensure nothing critical gets overlooked.
How to create a carbon accounting software RFP
A strong RFP will not only make vendor comparisons easier—it will help you clarify your own goals. Here’s what to include:
Company overview and sustainability objectives
Outline your industry, locations, size, and key drivers for emissions tracking (e.g., compliance, investor pressure, net zero goals).
Scope of work
Specify which emissions types (Scopes 1–3), reporting frameworks (e.g., CSRD, SEC, ISSB), and features (e.g., target modeling, data visualization) you need.
Data infrastructure
List your key systems (ERP, energy management, procurement, etc.) and integration requirements.
Security and compliance
Ask about data privacy, storage locations, certifications, and access controls.
Implementation and support
Clarify your preferred timeline, onboarding expectations, and level of customer support needed.
Evaluation criteria
Set priorities (e.g., scope coverage, pricing, UX, services) and describe your decision-making process.
Optional: Include a short questionnaire or scorecard to make responses easier to evaluate at a glance.
Frequently asked questions about carbon accounting software
- How much does carbon accounting software cost?
Costs vary widely based on company size, complexity, and required features. - What is a carbon inventory?
A carbon inventory is a comprehensive, organization-wide dataset of emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3. It provides the baseline for tracking performance, setting reduction targets, and supporting disclosures. Carbon inventories are critical for climate strategy and are often subject to third-party verification or audit. - Can product life cycle assessments solve Scope 3 emissions in fashion?
They help. LCAs provide granular insights into the environmental impact of products across their life cycle—critical for fashion brands targeting Scope 3 emissions. - What’s the best carbon accounting method?
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol remains the most widely used standard for corporate emissions measurement, offering consistent methodologies for global comparability. - How do carbon accounting tools support audits and assurance?
The best platforms are built with audit-readiness in mind. They provide traceable, transparent emissions data, log calculation methodologies (including emission factors), and offer configurable workflows for internal review and external assurance — making third-party verification more efficient and credible.
💡 Catch the replay: Pulsora Product Tour: Comprehensive Carbon Accounting
Enterprises are driving towards decarbonization with Pulsora
In a world where climate accountability is increasingly non-negotiable, carbon accounting software is no longer optional. It’s the foundation for environmental compliance, investor confidence, and meaningful sustainability outcomes.
Pulsora offers an enterprise-grade carbon accounting platform that simplifies complex emissions tracking across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 — making it the ideal choice for organizations with global operations and diverse value chains.
With automated data collection, seamless integrations, and flexible GHG calculation methods, Pulsora helps sustainability teams centralize carbon data, close gaps with estimation tools, and generate transparent, audit-ready reports aligned with the GHG Protocol.
More than just a reporting tool, Pulsora empowers companies to act with confidence.
PulsoraAI delivers strategic insights and custom decarbonization pathways aligned with science-based targets, while the platform’s scalable architecture, robust security (SOC 2 Type 2), and unlimited user access ensure it adapts to evolving enterprise needs.
From subsidiaries to suppliers, Pulsora drives decarbonization forward — intelligently, efficiently, and at scale.
Learn more about Pulsora’s carbon accounting and management solutions.
