Is accurate climate data a business necessity…

Jun 24

... or should we keep waiting for politics to catch up?

As Sweden’s political leaders gather in Almedalen to debate society’s most urgent issues, one question is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore: how long can businesses afford to wait for policy to define the pace of climate action?

For many companies, climate work still begins and ends with reporting. A report is submitted to meet regulations - box ticked, job done. But this mindset, while understandable, is dangerously outdated. Relying solely on regulatory minimums means missing out on a far more valuable opportunity: using accurate, real-time climate data to drive better decisions, reduce emissions, and lower costs.

Reporting is not the goal

Climate reporting is essential, but it was never meant to be the endgame. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the globally recognised standard for emissions accounting, makes it clear: businesses should prioritise primary, activity-based data and move beyond estimates wherever possible [1].

Why? Because once emissions data is available in real time, it becomes a tool for transformation, not just disclosure.

With accurate data at their fingertips, companies can:

Identify where emissions and costs are highest, often in the same places
Align operations with climate targets and monitor progress continuously
Provide transparent, credible information to stakeholders and customers
Make smarter procurement, logistics, and budgeting decisions

This isn’t theory. It is the difference between reacting to regulations and leading through intelligence.

Politics moves slowly. Business cannot afford to.

Climate policy is progressing, but not quickly. Proposals like the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) are important, but they have long timelines and often face political delays. The recent “stop-the-clock” suggestion in the EU would push reporting obligations for smaller companies further into the future [2].

Meanwhile, the climate crisis, and business risk, do not wait.

Market volatility, rising energy prices, supply chain disruption, and shifting investor expectations all demand more agility, not less. Treating climate data as a once-a-year compliance task means steering the business using yesterday’s map.

Technology has changed the game

Until recently, producing accurate, activity-based emissions data was difficult. Companies were stuck with manual processes, data scattered across departments, and costly consultancy projects that took months. In that world, spend-based estimates seemed like a reasonable compromise.

But that world no longer exists.

Today, advanced data systems and automation make it possible to calculate carbon emissions based on actual activity - quickly, accurately, and at scale. This aligns with guidance from the GHG Protocol and recommendations from the Carbon Trust and the World Resources Institute [1][3][4].

These tools eliminate the need to chase spreadsheets or rely on average values that distort reality. The cost and time barriers of the past are gone. What remains is the will to act.

The strategic case for acting now

Leading companies are no longer waiting for regulations to tell them what to do. They are treating carbon data as a strategic asset, integrating it into procurement, finance, and product development. They understand that in many cases, lower emissions mean lower costs, especially when linked to energy use, materials, and transport.

Real-time data enables:

Evidence-based pricing strategies
Supplier engagement and emissions benchmarking
Faster responses to investor or customer demands
Internal accountability, using carbon as a performance metric

As the GHG Protocol states, primary data is not just preferable, it is necessary for credible climate strategies [1].

Final Thought

The political debate will continue. And yes, regulation matters. But for any company serious about sustainability, waiting for policy to catch up is no longer an option.

Accurate, real-time climate data is no longer expensive or difficult. It is accessible, powerful, and increasingly expected. Reporting may be the starting line, but the real race is to turn insight into impact.

The clock is ticking. The opportunity is here.