Welcome to c:sense

c:sense provides independent, accredited services for the verification of CO₂ emissions under the UK and EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

Since our formation in 2005, we have successfully completed verification of carbon emissions from many UK companies, as a legal requirement of the UK’s National Allocation Plan for the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS).

Once verified by an accredited company, organisations then have the flexibility to meet emission reduction targets according to their own strategy and have the option to buy and sell their carbon permits.

As well as providing accurate figures following a thorough and rigorous audit, our experience, skill and expertise has also helped our clients reduce CO₂ emissions, so saving money and improving profitability.

The UK emissions trading scheme was the world’s first economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme. The scheme was launched in March 2002, and ran until December 2006, with final reconciliation in March 2007.

Thirty-three organisations (“direct participants” in the scheme) voluntarily took on emission reduction targets to reduce their emissions against 1998-2000 levels. They committed to reducing their emissions by 3.96m tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) by the end of the Scheme.

The scheme was also open to the 6000 companies with Climate Change Agreements. These negotiated agreements between business and Government set energy-related targets. Companies meeting their targets receive an 80% discount from the Climate Change Levy, a tax on the business use of energy. These companies can use the scheme either to buy allowances to meet their targets, or to sell any over-achievement of these targets. Anyone can open an account on the registry to buy and sell allowances.

Companies who opted-out of the EU ETS for the lifetime of the UK ETS will need to have a compliance audit on their permit and monitoring and reporting plans on entry back into the scheme.

The pilot phase of the EU ETS scheme (Phase 1) started on 1 January 2005 and runs for 3 years. The next phases each run for 5 years.

c:sense can provide accredited verification services to help you meet these requirements. c:sense is accredited by UKAS as Gastec Certification bv (UKAS no. 02170).

c:sense has also gained approval by INAB to carry out EU ETS verification work in Ireland. This approval was gained by EPA and INAB witnessing c:sense Lead Verifiers conducting site visits and compliance audits.