Free carbon accounting course, with a certificate
NetNada's Introduction to Carbon Accounting is a free, self-paced online course. Across 59 lessons, including 4 quizzes, it teaches the GHG Protocol and all three emission scopes, including the 15 upstream and downstream Scope 3 categories. Inventory templates are included, and you receive a certificate when you complete it.
- Price
- Free, certificate included
- Format
- Online, self-paced
- Lessons
- 59 lessons, including 4 quizzes
- Level
- Beginner to intermediate
- Standard
- GHG Protocol
- Credential
- Certificate of completion
How this course compares
The questions people ask when choosing a course like this, answered honestly, including where this course stops.
- Does it cover all three scopes, including upstream and downstream Scope 3?
- Yes
- Yes. Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 each have their own chapter, and the Scope 3 chapter works through all 15 categories: 1 to 8 upstream and 9 to 15 downstream.
- Which standards does it teach?
- Partly
- The course is built on the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, the method that ISO 14064-1, CDP and AASB S2 inventories also rely on. AASB S2 itself is taught in our free Preparing for Australian Mandatory Climate Reporting course.
- Do you calculate emissions yourself, or is it theory only?
- Yes
- You practise applying emission factors to activity data using the included templates or in the NetNada software, not just reading about the method.
- Do you get a certificate, and is it accredited?
- Partly
- You receive a digital certificate of completion from NetNada that you can share on LinkedIn. It is not a university award or an accredited professional qualification.
- Does it prepare you for auditors, regulators and procurement teams?
- Partly
- Assurance frameworks are covered as a named lesson in Chapter 1, so you know what an assurer will look for. It is an introduction, not a full verification module.
- Are templates or tools included?
- Yes
- Yes. Inventory templates are included with the course, alongside access to the NetNada software.
- What does it really cost?
- Yes
- Nothing. Enrolment and the certificate are free, there is no exam fee or renewal fee, and no credit card is needed.
What you'll learn
- Explain what carbon accounting is, which greenhouse gases it covers and why businesses are now asked for it
- Apply the GHG Protocol principles and set an organisational and operational inventory boundary
- Identify and calculate Scope 1 direct emissions from stationary combustion, mobile combustion, process and fugitive sources
- Account for Scope 2 purchased electricity, renewable energy contracts, steam, heating and cooling, and on-site generation
- Map your value chain against all 15 Scope 3 categories, upstream and downstream
- Turn activity data into tonnes of CO2-e using emission factors and emission databases
- Understand how an inventory is prepared for assurance
Curriculum
Welcome
- Welcome to the course
- Chapters overview
Chapter 1: Introduction to carbon accounting The foundations: the gases, the frameworks and the rules every inventory follows.
- Why should we focus on carbon accounting?
- The greenhouse gases (GHGs)
- What does carbon accounting involve?
- Carbon accounting frameworks
- What is the GHG Protocol?
- Key principles of GHG accounting
- Setting an inventory boundary
- The three scopes
- Life cycle assessment (LCA)
- Emission databases
- Assurance framework
- Chapter 1 quiz
Chapter 2: Scope 1, direct emissions Emissions from sources your organisation owns or controls.
- Stationary combustion
- Mobile combustion
- Process emissions
- Fugitive emissions
- Chapter 2 quiz
Chapter 3: Scope 2, indirect emissions from purchased energy Location-based and market-based electricity, and the other energy you buy.
- Purchased electricity
- Renewable energy contracts
- Purchased steam, heating and cooling
- On-site generation
- Chapter 3 quiz
Chapter 4: Scope 3, other indirect emissions (value chain) All 15 GHG Protocol categories. Categories 1 to 8 are upstream and 9 to 15 are downstream.
- Upstream 1: Purchased goods and services
- Upstream 2: Capital goods
- Upstream 3: Fuel- and energy-related activities
- Upstream 4: Upstream transportation and distribution
- Upstream 5: Waste generated in operations
- Upstream 6: Business travel
- Upstream 7: Employee commuting
- Upstream 8: Upstream leased assets
- Downstream 9: Downstream transportation and distribution
- Downstream 10: Processing of sold products
- Downstream 11: Use of sold products
- Downstream 12: End-of-life treatment of sold products
- Downstream 13: Downstream leased assets
- Downstream 14: Franchises
- Downstream 15: Investments
- Chapter 4 quiz
Chapter 5: Key terms and FAQs
- Key terms
- Frequently asked questions
Conclusion
- Final takeaways
The calculation at the heart of carbon accounting
Every inventory comes down to activity data multiplied by an emission factor. The course teaches where each number comes from. Here is a Scope 2 example using the Electricity — NSW & ACT factor.
If your Sydney office consumed 250,000 kWh of grid electricity during the reporting year:
- 250,000 kWh × 0.64 kg CO₂-e/kWh = 160,000 kg CO₂-e = 160 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 2)
- Plus losses: 250,000 kWh × 0.03 kg CO₂-e/kWh = 7,500 kg CO₂-e = 7.5 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 3)
Source and other factors: Grid Electricity — New South Wales & ACT .
Who this course is for
Sustainability and ESG leads
You have been asked for a carbon footprint and need a structured, GHG Protocol-aligned way to build it.
Finance and operations teams
You own the invoices, fuel cards and utility bills that become activity data, and want to know what happens to them.
Suppliers answering procurement requests
A customer has asked for your Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions as part of a tender or supplier review.
Consultants and advisers
You help clients prepare for AASB S2 climate disclosures and want a shared foundation for their teams.
About your certificate
Finish every lesson and quiz and you receive a digital certificate of completion from NetNada, which you can add to your LinkedIn profile or share with your employer. It shows you have worked through the GHG Protocol and Scope 1, 2 and 3 accounting. It is not an accredited qualification, so if your role requires one, use this course as the foundation before a paid, accredited program.
Who's behind the course
Co-Founder & Co-CEO, NetNada
Built by the NetNada team that measures and reports emissions for Australian businesses every day.
Page last reviewed 28 October 2026
Free or paid carbon accounting course?
A free course is enough if you
- need to understand Scope 1, 2 and 3 to build or review your organisation's inventory
- are answering a customer's or tender's emissions request
- want your finance and operations team on the same page before reporting
Consider a paid, accredited course if you
- need a formal qualification for your role or CV
- will verify or assure other organisations' inventories
- want instructor-led training with assessed work
Many people do both: a free course for the foundations, then accredited training once they know which specialism they need.
Frequently asked questions
Keep learning
Start Introduction to Carbon Accounting today
Self-paced and free. When you're ready to measure your own footprint, NetNada does the calculation with you.