Climate change response research, May to December 2009: carbon accounting survey for industry participants

The National Centre for Sustainability (NCS) at Swinburne University of Technology conducted industry research from May to December 2009, with the intention of quantifying the impact of a carbon price on small-medium enterprises (SME) and mapping the responses of different industries to the challenges of operating in and adapting to a carbon constrained economy. Their approach to the research project focused on capturing the unique insight and experiences of the country's newest workforce---the Carbon Accountants. Random online surveys were distributed to industry across Australia. The short survey (6-7 minutes) was designed by the National Centre for Sustainability to map the responses and readiness of different industries to operate and adapt to a low carbon future. The questions were designed to: examine current levels of industry-by-industry engagement with greenhouse gas quantification and carbon management strategies; identify the key skills and knowledge which industry sectors associate with operating in a carbon constrained economy; identify emerging industry needs in relation to carbon management, measurement and reporting skills; and publicly document the research findings. The results described here pertain only to the 369 responses received from industry and have been anonymised to protect the identity of the participants.