The rise of the carbon accountant for every construction project

The construction industry has long been measured by cost, time and quality, but a new metric is now shaping how every project is planned and delivered – all courtesy of our old friend - carbon. As the UK and much of Europe move toward net-zero targets, the need to understand and reduce the environmental footprint of construction has never been greater, writes John Ridgeway.

While architects design, engineers calculate and quantity surveyors count the cost, another specialist is beginning to join the team - the carbon accountant. This emerging role focuses not on financial budgets, but on carbon budgets - calculating emissions, identifying reductions and helping teams make low-carbon decisions from design through to delivery.

For many, it’s a concept that feels both new and inevitable. If every project tracks its cost in pounds and its schedule in days, why shouldn’t it also track its emissions in tonnes of carbon?

What exactly does a carbon accountant do?

A carbon accountant measures and manages the greenhouse gas emissions linked to a construction project. This includes the embodied carbon in materials such as steel, cement and glass, as well as the operational carbon used to run buildings over their lifetimes.

In practice, that means analysing designs to calculate how much carbon is produced at every stage - from extracting raw materials to transporting them, constructing the building and eventually maintaining or demolishing it. Using data, models and specialist software, the carbon accountant provides a full picture of a project’s environmental cost.

But the role doesn’t end there. Like a financial accountant who advises on spending and savings, a carbon accountant recommends practical ways to cut emissions. They might suggest alternative materials, more efficient supply chains, or different construction methods. The goal is not only to report on carbon, but to actively reduce it, ensuring that sustainability is built into every decision.

Why the role Is emerging now

Several forces are driving the rise of carbon accounting in construction. The most obvious is regulation. Governments across Europe have committed to net-zero targets and the built environment is one of the largest contributors of carbon emissions. In the UK, buildings are responsible for around 25% of total greenhouse gases and construction materials account for a major share of that figure.

Until recently, the focus was mainly on operational carbon, the energy used to heat, cool and power buildings, but as operational efficiency has improved, embodied carbon has become the next frontier. Developers, lenders and local authorities are increasingly demanding accurate carbon assessments as part of planning or financing requirements.

The second driver is corporate responsibility. Many major contractors and property developers have adopted their own net-zero pledges and investors are now asking for detailed evidence of progress. Carbon accounting gives those businesses the data and credibility they need to back up their sustainability claims.

Finally, there is the growing expectation from clients and the public. As awareness of the climate crisis deepens, the pressure on the construction sector to act responsibly has become a reputational issue as much as a regulatory one. Projects that can demonstrate carbon transparency are not just compliant - they are competitive.

Only a few years ago, the idea of hiring a carbon accountant for a single project might have seemed excessive. Today, it is becoming normal practice for major developments, infrastructure projects and even local authority builds.

In some cases, the role is filled by an in-house sustainability team. In others, consultants are brought in to work alongside architects and engineers. But the direction of travel is clear - carbon accounting is shifting from optional to essential.

The Construction Industry Council, the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Institution of Civil Engineers have all published guidance on measuring embodied carbon. Many clients now expect carbon reporting to sit alongside cost reporting. The term “carbon budget” is entering common use, with targets set in the same way as financial ones.

As a result, the carbon accountant is becoming an integral member of the project team - not just a sustainability advisor brought in at the end, but a strategic contributor from the very beginning.

Tools of the trade

The rise of digital construction has made carbon accounting more practical and powerful. Using Building Information Modelling (BIM), data on materials and quantities can be linked directly to carbon databases. Software platforms such as One Click LCA, EC3, and eTool now allow teams to estimate embodied carbon in real time as they design.

This technology is transforming decision-making. A designer can now compare two materials not just on cost or aesthetics, but on carbon impact. A project manager can see how sourcing steel from one supplier versus another changes the overall footprint. A client can visualise how design choices affect long-term sustainability goals.

Carbon accounting also helps align teams that traditionally work in silos. By quantifying carbon in the same way we quantify cost, it provides a shared language for sustainability. Architects, engineers, and contractors can collaborate on tangible reductions rather than abstract targets.

As with any emerging discipline, carbon accounting faces challenges. The first is data accuracy. Many material suppliers do not yet provide detailed environmental information, and carbon databases can vary in quality. This can make calculations inconsistent between projects or regions.

Another issue is expertise. There are currently far fewer trained carbon accountants than the industry needs. Many are environmental consultants or sustainability managers have adapted their skills to this niche, but formal training routes are still limited. As demand grows, education and accreditation will become vital to ensure reliability and professionalism.

Finally, there is the challenge of cost and perception. Some project teams still see carbon accounting as an extra layer of complexity or expense. However, as tools improve and reporting becomes mandatory, the process will become more streamlined and the business case clearer. Reducing carbon often reduces cost too, through material efficiency, local sourcing and smarter design.

What It means for developers and lenders

For developers, having a carbon accountant is increasingly a sign of maturity and foresight. It demonstrates to planners, investors and end-users that sustainability is taken seriously. In some cases, it can even unlock finance, as lenders move toward green funding criteria.

The ability to present verified carbon data adds transparency and trust to transactions. It also supports long-term asset value, as buildings with lower embodied carbon may face fewer future compliance costs or carbon taxes. In this sense, the carbon accountant is becoming part of risk management, not just environmental, but financial.

Looking ahead, it’s easy to imagine a time when every construction project, large or small, includes a carbon accountant as standard. Just as every project today requires a cost consultant, every future project could require a carbon consultant.

Governments are already signalling that this direction is coming. The UK Green Building Council and several local authorities are calling for mandatory whole-life carbon assessments for major developments. Once this becomes policy, the role of the carbon accountant will move from innovative to indispensable.

Beyond compliance, the profession has the potential to reshape how the industry thinks about value. A project will no longer be judged only by how quickly or cheaply it is built, but by how lightly it impacts the planet.

The construction industry is at a turning point. For decades, cost control has been the dominant measure of success. Now, as the world faces the realities of climate change, carbon control is stepping into the spotlight.

The rise of the carbon accountant reflects a deeper shift, from building at any cost to building responsibly. This new role gives the industry the tools to measure what matters, manage what it can control and make informed choices for a sustainable future.

Whether employed in-house or brought in as a consultant, the carbon accountant will soon be as familiar on project teams as the quantity surveyor. Together, they will help ensure that the buildings we create today stand as assets - not liabilities - for the generations to come.