Working in the Past vs. Working in Real Time: A Turning Point for Climate Accountability
For years, sustainability reporting has followed a familiar rhythm. A company finishes its fiscal year, closes its books, and months later—after chasing down scattered spreadsheets and supplier estimates—it finally publishes a climate report.
By the time the numbers are released, they’re already outdated.
That might have been acceptable in an era when climate reporting was a niche exercise. But today, when companies are making bold net-zero commitments, facing investor scrutiny, and operating under evolving regulatory pressure, it’s not enough. Working in the past simply won’t cut it.
The Problem with After-the-Fact Climate Data
Most companies today still rely on a retroactive approach. Data is collected long after the activities it reflects—sometimes six, nine, even twelve months later. That lag doesn’t just slow down reporting; it cripples action.
You can’t steer a ship by looking at last year’s maps. Yet that’s exactly what many businesses are doing when it comes to climate.
Worse still, the data being used is often incomplete or estimated using spend-based methods [1]. These approaches take financial data and multiply it by broad, generic emission factors. They’re easy to use—but dangerously imprecise. They ignore real differences between suppliers, locations, and operational details. And they offer little to no support for making proactive decisions.
But here’s the thing: this isn’t about blame. For years, companies have done the best they could with the tools available. Spend-based methods were often the only feasible option—especially when internal data was hard to access or time-consuming to analyse [2]. Sustainability teams made huge strides despite these limitations. But now, the landscape has changed.
Platforms like Green Effort unlock a new way forward—one that’s fast, integrated, and based on real operational activity. Today, companies don’t have to settle for estimates. They can choose precision.
Real-Time Climate Intelligence Is Here
Green Effort flips that model on its head.
Instead of collecting data after the fact, it works in real time. The platform connects directly to data companies already have—updated regularly and already flowing through their operations. Using automation, AI, and life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, it translates business activity into accurate, line-by-line CO2e data as it happens [1].
There’s no need to wait for year-end. Climate data becomes continuous, integrated, and actionable.
This changes everything.
From Annual Report to Everyday Insight
With real-time climate data, sustainability isn’t a once-a-year task—it becomes a living, breathing part of business operations.
Proactive vs Reactive: Companies can compare suppliers, products, or shipping options before making a purchase—not months afterward. That means smarter decisions, aligned with climate goals from day one.
Continuous Alignment: Emissions targets can be tracked in parallel with financial targets. If the goal is to cut 10% of emissions this year, progress can be monitored monthly—or even weekly.
Cost and Carbon: In many cases, reducing emissions also means reducing cost. With real-time data, these savings can be identified and acted upon instantly.
A Tool for the Whole Year
Green Effort isn’t just a reporting tool—it’s a year-round platform for climate performance. It empowers sustainability teams with immediate insight, procurement teams with smarter comparisons, and leadership with a real-time pulse on impact.
When climate goals are integrated into everyday decisions, they stop being aspirational and start becoming operational.
Final Thought: Why Real-Time Matters Now
The climate crisis doesn’t wait until the fiscal year ends. Neither should our response.
Real-time climate data doesn’t just make reporting faster. It transforms how businesses understand, act on, and lead in sustainability.
If we’re serious about climate action, it’s time to stop working in the past—and start acting in the present.
Sources & Further Reading
[1] GHG Protocol – Technical Guidance for Calculating Scope 3 Emissions
https://ghgprotocol.org/sites/default/files/standards/Scope3_Calculation_Guidance_0.pdf
[2] CDP: Why Spend-Based Carbon Accounting Falls Short
https://www.cdp.net/en/articles/media/why-spend-based-carbon-accounting-falls-short
Carbon Trust: What are Scope 3 Emissions?
https://www.carbontrust.com/resources/briefing-what-are-scope-3-emissions
WRI: 5 Steps to Improve Your Scope 3 Emissions Reporting
https://www.wri.org/insights/5-steps-improve-your-scope-3-emissions-reporting
IEEFA: EU Omnibus ‘Stop-the-Clock’ Proposal
https://ieefa.org/resources/eu-omnibus-stop-clock-proposal-call-compromise
