Imagine this - you swap plastic plates for bamboo ones and use a paper straw for your Starbucks order instead of the regular plastic one. After all, you’re trying to be more eco-friendly and protect the environment, right?
While these small hacks do their part in saving the environment, a single flight journey can easily cancel out those efforts due to the large amount of fuel it consumes. This significantly increases the carbon footprint, i.e., the total amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. However, it isn’t the only activity that increases emissions, which makes it even more important to measure and monitor them regularly. This is where the need for a carbon analyst arises. Let us understand what they do and examine their work up close.
Who is a carbon analyst? What is their role?
A carbon analyst is a specialist who analyses, monitors and manages carbon emissions and related data for various organisations, industries or government bodies.
Their work centres around using scientific methods, carbon accounting techniques and data analysis to monitor emissions, recognise the sources of carbon pollution and gauge the environmental impact of these activities. Their role is particularly focused on determining and quantifying these emissions, especially carbon dioxide. The larger goal of a carbon analyst is to support the transition to a low-carbon economy and accomplish sustainability targets through data-driven insights.
What are the responsibilities of a carbon analyst?
The responsibilities of a carbon analyst can change depending on the industry, organisation, or governmental body they work with. In general, the core responsibilities are as follows:
Tracking carbon emissions
They are responsible for collecting, examining and monitoring data from greenhouse emissions produced by different activities of the organisation or sector. This includes building and maintaining extensive databases, tracking and identifying the main sources of carbon pollution.
Evaluating the carbon footprint
They are required to conduct carbon footprint evaluations using carbon accounting methods to calculate emissions through direct, indirect and upstream/downstream sources.
Assessing environmental impact
They scrutinise the environmental impact of these carbon emissions on air quality, climate change, public health and ecosystems. They use scientific models and tools to evaluate sea level rise, habitat loss and extreme events due to weather and communicate them to stakeholders.
Strategising for emission reduction
They need to come up with new strategies and implement them to minimise carbon emissions and risks associated with climate change. This includes but isn’t limited to proposing measures for energy efficiency, adopting renewable energy, alternatives for transportation, reduction of waste and other activities to reduce the carbon footprint of the organisation.
Participating in carbon markets
They engage in carbon markets, carbon offset projects and other related mechanisms to help in reducing emissions and carbon neutrality. They may have to buy/sell carbon credits, verifying reductions in emissions and evaluating both financial and environmental implications.
What are the skills required to become a carbon analyst?
When it comes to the skills necessary to become a carbon analyst, there are two ways to approach it - one being formal education and the other being skills you need to develop on your own.
With respect to education, a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, sustainability, economics, statistics, or engineering will be relevant for pursuing this career path. For specialised research-oriented roles, an advanced degree like a master’s or a PhD may be expected. Relevant skills required for this path are:
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Data analysis
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Statistical modelling
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Carbon accounting methodologies
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Knowledge of environmental regulations
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Knowledge of carbon emissions reporting standards and protocols (e.g., Greenhouse Gas Protocol)
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Using software tools for data visualisation/analysis
What are the associated entrance exams?
Considering the degrees that lead to this role, relevant entrance exams for these degrees are JEE, CUET and state-level exams at the UG level. The exams for PG degrees are CUET-PG, GATE, JAM, CSIR-NET and UGC-NET. If you plan to pursue your degree abroad, the SAT/ACT would be required for the UG degree, while the GRE would be required at the PG level. You will have to take up IELTS/TOEFL at any study level, as these serve as proof of English proficiency required by universities.
What is the growth trajectory in this field?
The growth in this field starts from the junior level and ends at the head/director level. The hierarchy is as follows:
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Entry/junior analyst (0-2 years of experience):
This is the entry point into the carbon analyst field. Your work will mostly deal with data collection, performing emission calculations, working on reports and knowing more about associated tools and standards. -
Analyst (2-5 years of experience):
At this level, you will be bestowed with more responsibilities, including project management (in parts), making calculations on your own, refining reports and preparing proposals. -
Senior analyst (5-8 years of experience):
You will be considered a specialist at this stage. You will be responsible for leading entire projects, designing and planning initiatives around carbon reduction. Apart from that, you need to ensure regulatory compliance is met, influence policies and help the organisation set relevant targets to work on. -
Principal analyst/manager (8-12 years of experience):
At this point, you will supervise entire teams and be responsible for the sustainability function in a part of the organisation. You will also be involved with long-term strategy and external reporting. -
Head/Director (10+ years of experience):
You will become part of the senior leadership, leading organisation-wide strategies, environmental footprint management, risk, and regulatory compliance. You may move into executive roles such as director of ESG or Chief Sustainability Officer.
What is the expected salary in this field?
An entry-level carbon analyst can expect an annual salary in the range of INR 5-8 lakhs, while it increases to INR 10-13 lakhs as you progress, especially in locations like Bangalore. You can expect over INR 15 lakhs as you progress to the senior level. Currently, there are approximately 100-150 job vacancies across the country for this role across various companies.
In terms of USD, your starting pay will possibly be in the range of USD 50k-70k annually. An ideal midpoint is USD 90k, and you can expect over USD 100k as you progress to the senior level.
Companies that commonly hire carbon analysts include Deloitte, PwC, ExxonMobil, KOKO Networks, Aditya Birla Renewables, Reliance Industries, and GreenGen.
Who are the top role models in this field?
The most notable personalities in this field are Mr Prakash K Mishra, Mr Arupendra Nath Mullick, Ms Nimisha Pandey, and Mr Manish Kumar Dabkara. Remarkable carbon analysts across the world include Ms Shyla Raghav, Mr Mathis Wackernagel, Mr David T. Ho, Ms Nili Gilbert, and Ms Edda Aradottir. These carbon analysts have contributed to groundbreaking research, shaped sustainability practices, and influenced how the world understands and manages its carbon footprint.
As the world focuses more and more on sustainability, the role of a carbon analyst has never been more pivotal. By measuring, monitoring and managing carbon emissions, these specialists help organisations make informed decisions, reduce their environmental impact, and move toward a low-carbon future. For students passionate about the environment, pursuing this career offers not only the chance to contribute meaningfully to the planet but also a clear path for professional growth and impact.
