You're tasked with reducing your company's carbon footprint. How can you measure your success?

1 Define your scope

The first step is to define the scope of your carbon footprint assessment. What aspects of your transportation planning process do you want to include? For example, do you want to consider only the direct emissions from your vehicles and facilities, or also the indirect emissions from your electricity use, fuel production, and waste disposal? Do you want to include the upstream and downstream effects of your transportation services, such as the emissions from the goods you transport or the travel behavior of your customers? Depending on your scope, you may need different data sources and calculation methods.

3 Use online tools

One of the easiest ways to measure your carbon footprint is to use online tools that can help you estimate your emissions based on standard factors and assumptions. There are many tools available for different sectors and purposes, such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the EPA's Transportation and Climate Change Clearinghouse, or the World Bank's TRACE tool. These tools can provide you with a quick and simple overview of your carbon footprint, but they may not capture the specificities of your context and operations.

4 Apply customized methods

Another way to measure your carbon footprint is to apply customized methods that can account for the unique characteristics and conditions of your transportation planning process. For example, you can use emission factors that reflect the actual fuel types, technologies, and driving patterns of your vehicles; or you can use life cycle assessment (LCA) methods that consider the full environmental impacts of your transportation services, from cradle to grave. These methods can provide you with a more accurate and comprehensive picture of your carbon footprint, but they may require more data collection and analysis.

5 Monitor and report

The final step is to monitor and report your carbon footprint and your progress towards your sustainability goals. You should establish a regular and consistent system for collecting, verifying, and updating your data and metrics. You should also communicate your results and achievements to your stakeholders, such as your management, staff, customers, and regulators. You can use different formats and platforms to report your carbon footprint, such as dashboards, infographics, or sustainability reports. By monitoring and reporting your carbon footprint, you can demonstrate your commitment and accountability, and identify areas for improvement.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?