1.2 - Define the management of the Bilan Carbone® approach
What management and governance shall the organisation put in place?
The organisation shall establish internal management and governance enabling the completion of the approach and the achievement of the criteria associated. The organisation shall ensure that participants have the necessary methodological skills and are trained in the use of the tools employed, as well as in the construction and implementation of transition plans.
🔎 The organisation may use the RACI to structure and clarify the roles and responsibilities of the different stakeholders in the approach.
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Requirements relating to the Bilan Carbone® management
Here are the different requirements and recommendations, for each of the maturity levels, which meet increasingly ambitious management conditions.
Beginner level: criteria A1, B1, C1 and D1
Management
Management shall request or at least be informed of the carrying out of the Bilan Carbone®. It shall inform its staff of the launch of the approach and of their possible participation.
Coordination
For the completion of a Bilan Carbone® at Beginner level, a coordinator is appointed internally. They shall lead the approach and coordinate the operational execution of the Bilan Carbone®, for which two options are possible:
The approach is carried out internally; the coordinator acts alone or with internal operational officers brought together in a project team. These operational officers are trained in the Bilan Carbone® method. They use ABC tools (Bilan Carbone® software or spreadsheet), or, failing that, a tool compliant with the Bilan Carbone® method.
The approach is supported by a specialised consultancy firm, the operational officers are consultants trained in the Bilan Carbone® method. They support the execution of the approach, in whole or for certain key phases. They use ABC tools (Bilan Carbone® software or spreadsheet), or, failing that, a tool compliant with the Bilan Carbone® method.
This choice may vary according to the ambition of the organisation: a one-off project will more easily be carried out by an external provider while a long-term approach should be carried out internally.
For information, the introductions to each of the 7 steps of the method can give indications on the sizing of the time to be allocated.
Transition Plan
The transition plan of an organisation with Beginner maturity is the responsibility of the coordinator of the Bilan Carbone®, as well as of the operational officers. They take charge of:
its construction. It shall require a stakeholder engagement phase.
the implementation of the actions composing it (in collaboration with the action owners identified for each action).
its monitoring throughout its implementation.
Implementation, as well as monitoring of the transition plan, shall be carried out internally within the organisation.
Documentation
The organisation shall establish and keep up to date documentation regarding its carbon accounting. This documentation shall in particular detail:
The deliverables obtained at each step of the approach, which are subject to an internal reporting.
The names of the staff who participated in these exercises and the training they have attended
This documentation shall be used when renewing the Bilan Carbone® and for a potential evaluation.
Renewal
The organisation shall anticipate the renewal of the approach, which is carried out at least every 4 years for a Bilan Carbone® at Beginner level.
The organisation shall improve the management of the Bilan Carbone® approach from one cycle to the next, to progressively reach higher maturity levels.
🔎 If the Bilan Carbone® is used for BEGES-R reporting, BEGES-R, this periodicity coincides with that of the regulation for private law organisations. Note of caution for public law organisations for which the renewal period is 3 years.
Intermediate level: criteria A2, B2, C2 and D2
Management
Management shall request the completion of the Bilan Carbone®. It shall inform its staff of the launch of the approach and of their possible participation.
At least part of the organisation's management shall be engaged. The results of the approach are reported to management, which participates in the development of the transition plan.
Coordination
The coordinator shall be trainedin the Bilan Carbone® method. They must, either, have already carried out the previous Bilan Carbone® or have benefited from the transfer of knowledge from the previous assessment.
A project team made up of operational officers trained in the Bilan Carbone® method shall be formed around the coordinator. A specialised consultancy firm, trained in the Bilan Carbone® method, may be solicited for certain parts of the approach, notably for the accounting. They use ABC tools (Bilan Carbone® software or spreadsheet), or, failing that, a tool compliant with the Bilan Carbone® method.
For information, the introductions to each of the 7 steps of the method can give indications on the sizing of the time to be allocated.
Transition Plan
The transition plan of an organisation with Intermediate maturity depends on different people:
its construction is the responsibility of the coordinator of the Bilan Carbone®, as well as of the operational officers. A stakeholder engagement phase will be necessary, with the main operational functions that will be affected by the implementation of the transition plan (such as the procurement service, production, the finance service, the management, among others). They must participate in its construction so that it is adapted to the organisation's activity and to those who will implement it.
the implementation of the actions composing it is the responsibility of the coordinator of the Bilan Carbone®, or of the operational officers, but the operations to be carried out are delegated to the relevant departments.
its monitoring throughout its implementation is the responsibility of the coordinator of the Bilan Carbone®, or of the operational officers. The results of the approach are reported periodically to management.
Implementation, as well as monitoring of the transition plan, shall be carried out internally within the organisation.
Documentation
The organisation shall establish and keep up to date documentation regarding its carbon accounting. This documentation shall in particular detail:
The deliverables obtained at each step of the approach, which are subject to an internal reporting.
The names of the staff who participated in these exercises and the training they have attended
This documentation shall be used when renewing the Bilan Carbone® and for a potential evaluation.
Renewal
The organisation shall anticipate the renewal of the approach, which is carried out at least every 4 years for a Bilan Carbone® at Intermediate level. It is expected between each renewal of the complete Bilan Carbone® to track the indicators in a monitoring system (the most significant emissions and actions implemented in the transition plan).
🔎 If the Bilan Carbone® is used for BEGES-R reporting, BEGES-R, this periodicity coincides with that of the regulation for private law organisations. Note of caution for public law organisations for which the renewal period is 3 years.
Advanced level: criteria A3, B3, C3 and D3
Management
At least one member of management shall lead the Bilan Carbone® approach. They shall be responsible for integrating the approach into the organisation's overall strategy. They shall be guarantor of the application of the transition plan within the organisation. They shall follow the training Bilan Carbone® for Decision-makers.
Coordination
The coordinator shall be trained in the Bilan Carbone® method. They must, either, have already carried out the previous Bilan Carbone® or have benefited from the transfer of knowledge from the previous assessment. The entire Bilan Carbone® approach is internalised and managed by the coordinator.
A project team made up of operational officers trained in the Bilan Carbone® method shall be formed around the coordinator. They use ABC tools (Bilan Carbone® software or spreadsheet), or, failing that, a tool compliant with the Bilan Carbone® method. Consultants may be solicited to consolidate the approach (specify the accounting by LCAs, provide strategic advice, provide educational awareness-raising, etc.).
For information, the introductions to each of the 7 steps of the method can give indications on the sizing of the time to be allocated.
Transition Plan
The transition plan of an organisation with Advanced maturity depends on different people:
its construction is the responsibility of the coordinator of the Bilan Carbone®, as well as of the operational officers. A stakeholder engagement phase will be necessary, with the organisation's management, the main operational functions that will be affected by the implementation of the transition plan (such as the procurement service, production, the finance service, the management, among others...), as well as certain external stakeholders (such as some suppliers having a key impact on the value chain). These stakeholders participate in its construction so that it is adapted to the organisation's activity and to those who will implement it.
the implementation of the actions and the monitoring of the transition plan are the responsibility of the relevant internal operational functions. For this purpose, internal referents, at least one per operational function, are determined. These members have all followed the training Bilan Carbone® for Decision-makers, and hold responsibilities within the organisation. The results of the approach are reported periodically to management and at least one member of management is guarantor of the application of the transition plan within the organisation.
Implementation, as well as monitoring of the transition plan, shall be carried out internally within the organisation.
Documentation
The organisation shall establish and keep up to date documentation regarding its carbon accounting. This documentation shall in particular detail:
The deliverables obtained at each step of the approach, which are subject to an internal reporting.
The objectives and the boundaries of said accounting
This documentation shall be available and communicated within the organisation and to its potential partners. This document is used for a potential evaluation.
Renewal
The organisation's complete Bilan Carbone® is renewed at least annually, but the largest emission categories and the actions undertaken in the transition plan can be monitored more regularly, whether monthly or semi-annually. A monitoring system facilitating the completion of the assessment, and the continuous monitoring of indicators related to the transition plan shall exist, enabling the feeding and steering of the organisation's overall strategy.
Collective approach:
It is possible to carry out the Bilan Carbone® approach collectively, by joining together with several other organisations each wishing to carry out a Bilan Carbone®.
It is advisable to associate organisations of a similar maturity level.
These collective operations are particularly useful for organisations belonging to the same sector of activity or the same geographic area. They allow organisations to exchange best practices, to help each other mutually, to remain engaged or to pool resources.
Deliverables related to the scoping of the approach
The information and deliverables obtained at the end ofstep 1, and associated with the above requirements, are to be reported at the end of the approach:
Do you have a question about understanding? Consult the FAQ. The method is living and therefore likely to evolve (clarifications, additions): find the change log here.
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