• As part of joining the alliance all members sign up to the following code of conduct. This is subject to regular updates and is always open to feedback:

    1. All members are expected to be active in carbon accounting.

    2. All members are expected to follow the guidance of the GHG Protocol in their calculation methodology for both corporate carbon footprints and product carbon footprints unless unless there is a methodologically defendable case for deviation. They may additionally be aligned with or comply with ISO 14064 and PAS 2050 respectively.

    3. All members commit to advise companies based on the latest scientific insights and guidance provided by the leading climate research. This includes, but is not limited to, setting carbon reduction targets following the guidance of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) or similarly reputable scientific authorities, unless there is a robust, methodologically defendable case for deviation.

    4. All members agree not to partake in anti-competitive practices including but not limited to operating as a cartel, bid rigging, market sharing, price fixing or sharing commercially sensitive information. (e.g. competitors should not agree to price services at the same or specified levels, nor to avoid particular customers / markets).

    5. All members agree to work under the Chatham House Rule which helps create a trusted environment to understand and resolve complex problems. Its guiding spirit is: share the information you receive, but do not reveal the identity of who said it.

    6. All members agree not to actively pitch and sell services to other CAA Members. This includes no advertising of products, services, or job opportunities. Case studies are appropriate to share, provided this is clearly beneficial for peer learning and development of best practice. The CAA is intended to be a safe space for technical conversations and collaboration, not a sales / recruitment channel.

    7. The CAA does not tolerate any form of harassment or victimisation and expects all of its members or partners to treat each other with respect, courtesy and consideration.

    8. All members of the CAA are expected to: treat other members with honesty, dignity and respect; discourage any form of harassment by making it clear that such behaviour is unacceptable; and support other members who feel that they have been subject to harassment.

    9. All members are expected to walk the talk, and at minimum should be measuring their own Corporate Carbon Footprint on an annual basis.

    10. CAA Members are free to use the Carbon Accounting Alliance logo to reference themselves as ‘Members’. It should not be used to indicate that the CAA supports, endorses, or actively participates in Member organisation projects without express written permission from CAA senior leadership.

    11. No member shall be a part of or a subsidiary to a company whose primary business is within the fossil fuel industry.

    12. If concerns are raised by one or more members regarding compliance of an applicant or member with this code of conduct, Carbon Accounting Alliance conveners should be notified, who can then progress the issue appropriately. If a clear breach is identified, the applicant/member will be given an opportunity to make their case and provide context to the group. Ultimately, the decision to admit/expel a member will be decided through a vote of CAA membership, with a simple majority (50%+) and a quorum of 10+ members voting in total.

Community platform

Community platform & events

As a member you’ll get access to our community platform where you can sign up to global and regional events and have discussions on key topics.

We organise virtual monthly global gatherings on the first Tuesday of every month, where we often host external speakers from organisations like the SBTi, CDP or WBCSD.

We will increasingly be organising physical events, including a global carbon accounting conference in late 2025 in London.

Working Groups

‘Working Groups’ were set up to discuss complex, nuanced matters and drive technical alignment in smaller groups. Any member of the alliance can join the groups as an active or passive participant and they also open to external stakeholders who are not part of the alliance.

Current topics include FLAG (Forest, Land Use and Agricultural Guidance), carbon offsetting & carbon neutrality claims, regulatory monitoring, professionalisation & training, software interoperability, finance & investment, advertising emissions, events & cultural spaces.

Grow your network

The community platform has social media features which allow you to interact with other carbon accounting professionals who have similar interests.

Expand your network with access to almost 1000 carbon accounting professionals and to one of the widest range of expertise in climate-related topics globally.

FAQs

  • The goal is to bring together carbon accounting organisations and professionals who have tangible expertise in GHG accounting, by calculating carbon footprints. They should have a good grasp of the GHG Protocol and ideally other relevant standards and be actively working with businesses on GHG accounting regularly. 

    We accept organisations across all geographies, of all sizes and those operating within specialist departments within larger firms, whose focus is not necessarily climate-related.

    We want to welcome all who are passionate about making a positive impact, are knowledgeable and share our values.

  • All members agree not to partake in anti-competitive practices including but not limited to operating as a cartel, bid rigging, market sharing, price fixing or sharing commercially sensitive information. (e.g. competitors should not agree to price services at the same or different but specified levels, nor to avoid particular customers / markets). 

  • We currently don’t charge any membership fees, but may choose to do so in the future if this allows the Alliance to achieve its objectives more efficiently.

  • The only commitment is to sign up to our code of conduct. We currently have monthly meetings where we encourage attendance and have a number of initiatives (e.g. policy letters) in which members can choose to participate.