Standardised carbon emissions framework (SCEF)
Who is this resource for?
- Post-16 education organisations in the UK and Ireland.
- It will be particularly valuable for sustainability professionals, estates teams and others responsible for carbon emissions reporting, sustainability planning and performance.
What will this resource help you do?
Robust carbon reporting is fundamental to effective climate action.
The Standardised Carbon Emissions Framework (SCEF) provides post-16 education organisations with a consistent, sector-backed approach to calculating and reporting carbon emissions, helping institutions understand their impact, demonstrate progress and make informed decisions to support decarbonisation.
The framework is based on the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, the world's most widely used greenhouse gas accounting standard, and represents sector-recognised effective practice.
It also compliments existing reporting requirements and guidance, including the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) tool.
What's new in version 2?
Published in September 2026, version 2 strengthens and expands guidance in several important areas of emissions reporting, helping your institution build a more complete and accurate understanding of its carbon footprint.
Updates include:
- Enhanced guidance on Scope 3 emissions, including supply chain, travel, homeworking and investments
- Expanded guidance relating to land and livestock
- Explicit guidance on where to report digital emissions, given the rise of generative AI use in the sector
- Updated guidance on electricity and renewable energy reporting
These changes reflect evolving practice and growing demand for more comprehensive carbon reporting across the sector.
Resource history
| Date | Version | Description | |
| September 2026 | 2 | Enhanced guidance on Scope 3 emissions, land and livestock, digital emissions, electricity and renewable energy reporting. | |
| 2022 | 1 | First publication
|
Funders and acknowledgements
This resource was created by EAUC with support from the Scottish Funding Council and input from:
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- Nottingham Trent University
- University of the West of England
- Imperial College London
The first version was funded by the Department for Education and developed with input from across the post-16 education sector, including the Association of Colleges, Colleges Scotland and Universities UK.
EAUC would like to thank all those involved in developing this crucial tool for the sector.
Related resources
- The cost of net zero calculator
- Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR)
- HESA’s Estates Management Report (EMR)
Further information
For questions, comments or feedback on this resource, please contact: info@eauc.org.uk
| 18 November 2025 | |
| Resource | |
| EAUC SCEF_version 2_2026.pdf | |
| EAUC | |
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