We report on carbon emissions to reduce them. That's what we all try to do in the carbon accounting community, day after day. The UK…

Kenneth Van Den Bergh

Co-founder at Carbon+Alt+Delete | Carbon accounting software for sustainability consultants

We report on carbon emissions to reduce them. That's what we all try to do in the carbon accounting community, day after day. The UK Government has published a post-implementation review of the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) framework, testing the link between a carbon reporting mandate and actual carbon mitigation. 1. SECR reporting is linked to real emissions reductions. Modelled analysis found in-scope companies used 4.5-6.2% less energy than a comparable "synthetic" group of similar but unregulated businesses. Self-reported survey data is more modest: about 25% of compliers said SECR itself drove a reduction in their energy use. 2. The regulation delivers strong value for money. The overall cost-benefit analysis is strongly positive: £2.72 in benefits (energy savings, avoided carbon, air quality) for every £1 of cost (reporting costs). This adds up to a net present social value of £5.1bn over 2019–2025. 3. Disclosure alone builds internal awareness. Nearly 50% of companies reported increased internal awareness of energy and carbon costs. But awareness didn't reliably convert into pressure to act: only ~33% felt reporting increased pressure to reduce emissions. Investors and reporting providers pointed to a missing ingredient — SECR is backward-looking, with no mandated targets or transition plans. Source: 2026 Post-Implementation Review of the SECR Regulations 2018, GOV UK (May 2026)

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