Energy Evolution

The math behind emissions: Why carbon accounting matters now more than ever

2026-03-17 · 11:44 UTC ·S&P Global Commodity Insights ·1 min read

Brief

Carbon accounting sits at the intersection of energy, commodities, and trade policy as 2026 regulatory and industry changes force companies to quantify emissions more rigorously. The conversation centers on the need to harmonize methodologies across markets, with the speakers emphasizing that comparable product-level data will shape compliance, competitiveness, and decision-making as carbon rules tighten.

Why it matters

S&P Global says carbon accounting is becoming central to global trade and energy markets in 2026, driven by three changes: rollout of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, revisions to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and new industry efforts to build product-level carbon accounting.

Key details

  • Host Eklavya Gupte frames the core problem as harmonization: emissions must be calculated, reported, and compared using standardized, comparable data or commodity markets will struggle to price and assess carbon consistently.
  • The episode features S&P Global Energy Horizons analysts Kevin Birn, Roman Kramarchuk, and James Salo, who focus on how the commodity industry is responding to rising pressure for better emissions measurement and reporting standards.
Source evidence

title: The math behind emissions: Why carbon accounting matters now more than ever
author: S&P Global Commodity Insights
contenttype: podcast
publication: Energy Evolution
published: 2026-03-17T11:44:59+00:00
sourceurl: https://batterymetals.libsyn.com/the-math-behind-emissions-why-carbon-accounting-matters-now-more-than-ever

word_count: 127

Carbon accounting — the math of how emissions are calculated, reported and compared — is poised to move to the forefront of global trade and energy markets. Three critical developments in 2026 are forcing action: the implementation of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, revisions to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and new industry-driven product-level carbon accounting efforts. In this episode, host Eklavya Gupte explores why harmonizing carbon accounting matters now, what's at stake, and how the commodity industry is responding to the urgent need for standardized, comparable emissions data. The discussion features S&P Global Energy Horizons analysts Kevin Birn, head of carbon research and the center of emissions excellence; Roman Kramarchuk, head of integrated narratives and policy analysis; and James Salo, head of partnerships and strategic initiatives.