Simplify carbon accounting at your school

Feeling the pressure to act on sustainability, but not sure where to start?

You’re not alone. With rising expectations from parents, students, and stakeholders, and the increasing need for environmental action, schools all across Australia are exploring how to measure and manage their carbon impact.

But carbon accounting can feel overwhelming; jargon-filled, time-consuming, and hard to align with your everyday operations.
That’s why we created this guide – to cut through the complexity and show you exactly how to get started, at your own pace.

Who is it for?

This guide has been designed for schools just like yours
Whether you’re managing budgets, leading operations, overseeing sustainability as a whole, or wondering how to guide your whole school community on taking climate action - this guide is built for you.‍

Best suited for:

• Operations Managers - Oversee the day-to-day running of school facilities, ensuring buildings, utilities, and resources are managed efficiently and sustainably.
• Sustainability Coordinators - Lead initiatives to reduce the school’s environmental impact, track emissions data, and engage staff and students in climate action.
• Principals & Leadership Teams - Set the strategic vision for the school, balancing educational outcomes with sustainability goals and community expectations.

What you’ll learn

‍What’s inside the guide?

• What carbon accounting means in a school setting (and why it matters)
• A simple breakdown of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions
• How to identify and measure your school’s key emission sources
• Where to find the right data, without getting lost in spreadsheets
• How software (like Climate Zero) simplifies calculations and reporting

About the authors

This guide has been prepared by the expert team at Climate Zero

Climate Zero helps Australian organisations simplify their journey to net zero. With intuitive carbon accounting software built by local sustainability experts, we make emissions tracking, reporting, and action easier, with the right support along the way.