Public sector organisations across the UK have stepped up to the climate challenge. From local authorities to education institutions, hundreds of public bodies have declared climate emergencies and committed to achieving net zero in their operations. This leadership is essential, not only for reducing organisational carbon footprints but also for demonstrating accountability and setting the standard for broader regional and national climate action.
Yet despite these bold commitments, a critical gap remains. While most public bodies are making progress on their direct emissions (Scope 1 and 2), the majority are not yet measuring, let alone reducing, their indirect Scope 3 emissions. This is a significant oversight, as procurement emissions frequently account for 70-80% of a public organisation’s total carbon footprint.
The Scope 3 Challenge in Public Sector Operations
Addressing Scope 3 emissions presents unique challenges for public sector organisations. Unlike private companies, public bodies operate under strict procurement regulations, face resource constraints, and must balance environmental considerations with value for money requirements. Many sustainability teams find themselves unsure where to begin, lacking the tools to engage suppliers effectively or embed climate considerations into complex procurement frameworks.
Traditional carbon accounting tools, designed primarily for private sector use, often fall short of addressing these operational realities. They provide estimates rather than actionable intelligence, and fail to integrate with the procurement processes that drive the majority of public sector emissions.
CarbonTrack: Purpose-Built for Public Sector Realities
We’re proud to announce the launch of CarbonTrack. CarbonTrack goes beyond measurement to deliver actionable intelligence that supports real-world emissions reductions.
CarbonTrack offers a practical, structured framework for understanding and acting on Scope 3 emissions across the full range of public sector operations, from estates and fleets to waste management and complex supply chains. The platform helps organisations move from estimation to action, providing the tools needed to turn climate commitments into measurable progress.
Key Features That Make the Difference
Comprehensive Baseline Creation: Using a robust and granular methodology, CarbonTrack helps public bodies establish credible Scope 3 baselines, breaking down emissions by supplier, industry, and geography. This level of detail enables organisations to pinpoint emission hotspots, allocate resources more effectively, and take targeted action where it matters most.
Supplier Engagement at Scale: CarbonTrack supports direct supplier engagement by enabling organisations to collect data directly from their supply chains. The platform applies a supplier-level model to build a clearer picture of value chain emissions, moving beyond industry averages to real-world data.
Procurement Policy Integration: Crucially, CarbonTrack helps embed emissions intelligence into procurement policy itself. The platform enables public bodies to align purchasing decisions with climate goals, ensuring carbon considerations sit alongside cost, quality, and social value in procurement decisions.
Emissions Intelligence Scoring :The platform’s supplier scoring model provides actionable insights into supply chain performance, helping procurement teams identify opportunities for improvement and track progress over time.
Built for Your Operational Constraints
At City Science, we understand the unique operational constraints that public sector organisations face when tackling climate change. Tight budgets, regulatory requirements, and competing priorities all influence how sustainability initiatives can be implemented. CarbonTrack was designed to meet these challenges head-on, providing a structured, scalable solution that helps teams make progress today, not just plan for tomorrow.
The platform is already being piloted by multiple UK public bodies, from local authorities to government agencies, demonstrating its practical value across different types of public sector operations.
See CarbonTrack in Action
Want to experience CarbonTrack for yourself? A free demo dashboard is available now at carbontrack.uk. The demo lets you explore CarbonTrack’s baseline emissions functionality, showing how emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 can be broken down by facility, supplier, geography, and category.
Join Our Launch Webinar
We’re hosting a webinar to introduce CarbonTrack and demonstrate its capabilities in detail.
When: Thursday 4th September 11am-12pm
Register now for free and receive access to the demo dashboard plus follow-up resources to support your organisation’s path to operational net zero.
Ready to Close the Gap?
The gap between climate declarations and Scope 3 action doesn’t have to persist. With CarbonTrack, public sector organisations have a tool designed for their unique needs, one that addresses the realities of public procurement while delivering the actionable intelligence needed to drive real emissions reductions.
Ready to see how CarbonTrack can transform your approach to procurement emissions? Try the demo dashboard today, join our upcoming webinar, or get in touch to discuss how CarbonTrack can support your organisation’s net zero journey.