What is a carbon ledger in an enterprise context and how is it different from a

A carbon ledger is a structured, auditable record of emissions data and calculations organized as entries with sources, methods, factors, and approvals—akin to a financial general ledger for greenhouse gases. Unlike a periodic GHG inventory that presents aggregated totals for reporting, a carbon ledger captures transaction-level activity data (e.g., kWh by meter, liters of fuel by asset, ton-km by lane), the emission factors applied, calculation logic, and change history. This granularity supports traceability, controls, and re-statement when factors or boundaries change. It also enables multi-dimensional rollups (by site, cost center, supplier, product, or project) and facilitates external assurance. A robust ledger aligns with the GHG Protocol on boundaries, scopes, and consolidation approach, and with ISO 14064-1 principles for relevance, completeness, consistency, accuracy, and transparency. Practically, a ledger underpins repeatable reporting across frameworks (e.g., CSRD/ESRS, SBTi tracking) and allows drill-down to evidence (utility bills, contracts, meter telemetry) during audits. It becomes the operational backbone for continuous emissions monitoring, rather than a once-a-year spreadsheet exercise. Key Takeaway: A carbon ledger is a transaction-level, auditable system of record that turns annual inventories into controllable, repeatable, and assured emissions accounting.