As the world grapples with the growing concerns of climate change, organisations across industries are increasingly recognizing the importance of measuring and reducing their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Leading sustainability reporting frameworks such as the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), and Science Based Targets (SBT) have emerged as essential guidelines for companies striving to achieve environmental sustainability.

While many organizations focus on their operational emissions, it is crucial not to overlook the carbon emissions associated with websites.

Incorporating website emissions into compliance efforts is a necessary step toward a comprehensive and accurate environmental impact assessment.

In an era dominated by digital technology, the environmental impact of websites cannot be ignored.

Websites contribute to carbon emissions through various channels such as hosting, data centers, user devices, and internet infrastructure.

These emissions arise from energy consumption, including electricity usage and the associated greenhouse gas emissions produced by the sources of that electricity.

And as the IPCC noted in their ‘Code Red’ report, organisations cannot rely on the internet’s green energy transition alone to meet their goals.

To achieve meaningful sustainability reporting, organsations need to adopt a holistic approach.

Thanks to Digital Carbon Online, including website emissions is now one of the easier sources of digital CO2 emissions to achieve, and goes to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a company’s carbon footprint.

By accounting for the carbon emissions associated with websites, organisations demonstrate commitment to holistic climate action planning, gain a clearer picture of their environmental impact and can identify areas for improvement.

CDP is one of the most recognized frameworks for environmental reporting, enabling companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and climate change-related activities.

To comply with CDP guidelines effectively, organisations should account for their website emissions.

This inclusion demonstrates a commitment to transparency and sustainability, enhancing credibility and reputation among stakeholders.

SASB provides industry-specific sustainability accounting standards, emphasising the importance of materiality.

As websites play a crucial role in many business operations and customer engagement across sectors, they increasingly become material to a company’s environmental performance.

Incorporating website emissions into SASB reporting helps organisations meet the disclosure requirements and ensure a comprehensive representation of their environmental risks and opportunities.

GRI offers a comprehensive framework for sustainability reporting, promoting transparency and accountability.

Including website emissions aligns with GRI’s principle of reporting on environmental performance indicators.

By incorporating website emission data, organisations can showcase their commitment to sustainability and contribute to GRI’s mission of achieving a sustainable global economy.

The Science Based Targets (SBT) initiative assists companies in setting greenhouse gas reduction targets in line with climate science.

Addressing website emissions is critical for organisations aiming to set science-based targets. Neglecting website emissions would result in an incomplete target-setting process, hindering progress toward reducing overall carbon emissions.

In an era where digital technologies are ever-more integral to business success, incorporating website emissions into compliance with CDP, SASB, GRI, and SBT regulations is paramount.

Organisations need to recognize the significance of website emissions in accurately measuring their carbon footprint and advancing environmental sustainability.

By including website emissions, companies demonstrate a commitment to transparency, accountability, and the holistic mitigation of their overall environmental impact.

Digital Carbon Online makes it easier than ever to assess the carbon footprint of company websites. Find out how, by booking your demo.