Decarbonisation Management Tools 101: How to Select the Right Tool

Companies today are facing growing pressure to decarbonise from consumers, investors and regulators. Data management is key to this process as companies need to map their current emissions and monitor and report on these over time. As decarbonisation and sustainability more broadly affect multiple areas of a firm, the sheer volume of data can prove overwhelming—becoming a real challenge for companies. This has driven the proliferation of decarbonisation and sustainability management softwares that promise to solve the challenges companies are facing. However, with over 60 options on the market, selecting the right tool can be a challenge in and of itself. This article outlines an approach for companies to methodically approach tool selection and highlights the importance and need for companies to align their sustainability data governance and IT strategy. The findings are the outcome of a master thesis written for the MSc Business Administration and eBusiness program, under the supervision of Dr. Kristjan Jespersen.