Standardised carbon emissions framework (SCEF) revised

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 and 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.

Developed by EAUC, in partnership with government, sector bodies and higher and further education institutions, the SCEF supports a more transparent and consistent approach to emissions reporting across the UK and Ireland.

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 institutions build a more complete and accurate understanding of their 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  

• September 2026 - version 2 published 
• 2022 - version 1 published 

Funders and acknowledgements  

This resource was created by EAUC with support from the Scottish Funding Council with input from Glasgow Caledonian University, Nottingham Trent University, University of the West of England and 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.

Linked or related resources 

• The cost of net zero calculator
• Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR)
• HESA’s Estates Management Report (EMR)

Download the framework 

Download the SCEF V2 to strengthen your institution's carbon emissions reporting and contribute to a more transparent, consistent and robust approach to carbon accounting across the UK and Ireland's post-16 education sector.

Further information 

For questions, comments or feedback on this resource, please contact: info@eauc.org.uk