Picture it. Over 250 million Americans and Europeans trapped in heat domes, experiencing record-breaking temperatures day after day. If you can’t picture it, just Google what happened in June 2025. The global need to slash emissions, and therefore reduce the impact of climate change, is critical. And emissions intelligence is essential to making this happen.

In this blog, we will explore:

• What is emissions intelligence (EI)
• Why businesses need it
• How EI works, including practical examples
• The benefits of embedding EI into enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems

What is emissions intelligence?

Emissions intelligence (EI) uses AI and advanced technologies to deliver precise and actionable emissions data, insights, and forecasts, without the need for complex, manual inputs. It eliminates barriers created by data gaps, empowering organisations to achieve sustainability goals with confidence.

The output is more accessible scope 3 tracking, increased carbon data accuracy, and actionable insights. A world powered by EI lays the foundation for a low-carbon future, where every product or service is climate-positive by default.

Why does the world need emissions intelligence?

Data. The inputs required to calculate emissions are complex, fragmented, and siloed. It exists, but not accessibly.

A survey conducted by PwC reported that 96% of businesses cited data availability and quality as the biggest barrier to climate compliance. For them, unravelling value chain emissions is an enigma.

When businesses experience data gaps, it’s common practice to fill them with industry averages. The problem with averages is that critical details are lost. When the quality of inputs falls, so do the outputs.

What are the consequences of low-quality emissions data?

Only high-quality emissions data can inform effective emissions reductions. This means bad emissions data is blocking net zero.

Bad data, bad decisions, expensive outcomes.

Poor data often means that the emissions estimates are higher than actual values. Inflated numbers come at a cost to businesses, either through greater investment in emission reductions or carbon taxation.

Using averages, rather than actual data, means many decarbonisation opportunities are hidden. For example, if you were calculating logistics emissions by using the fuel consumption of an “average container ship”, you may never realise that the majority of your emissions are being produced by a single carrier.

In the short term, inaccuracies could lead to misreporting. Companies risk sharing false information with shareholders, greenwashing, and non-compliance. It’s a reputational and financial risk. In 2022, the UK collected £27 million in fines from 33 companies for failing to meet climate standards.

On the flip side, reducing emissions is a financial opportunity. Companies cutting their Scope 3 emissions have already saved $13.6 billion in costs. It’s, therefore, unsurprising that around 50% of the companies featured in the Forbes Global 2000 list have pledged net-zero targets for carbon emissions by 2050. To meet these targets, their actions must be informed by high-quality emissions data.

How does emissions intelligence work?

EI is like a modern GPS. However, instead of mapping roads, it maps carbon.

In the past, tracking emissions was akin to using an outdated paper map. Missing information meant the risk of getting lost or being late was considerably higher.

Emissions intelligence collects data to fill in these gaps.

A GPS accounts for traffic conditions, elevation, and cycle paths to optimise routes and journey times. You’re less likely to get lost using a GPS.

By using AI and layering multiple data sources, EI gives sustainability leads a detailed and accurate illustration of their carbon footprint. Equipped with this information, they can make real-time decisions to reduce emissions effectively.

Making greener decisions using emissions intelligence

To reach net zero, businesses must climate-align every decision. Achieving this behaviour change on such a scale requires emissions data to be embedded into workflows. That’s why an API is the ultimate catalyst for injecting EI into business processes.

For example, using Lune's emission intelligence, Freight Forwarders can now rely on high-quality carbon data to inform reduction strategies, like effective modal shifts or route optimisation.

Alternatively, when embedded into spend management platforms, finance teams can manage emissions like budgets. They can create a green governance, identify high emitting functions, and pathways for decarbonisation.

By integrating EI into existing ERP platforms, emissions naturally becomes part of the decision-making criteria. Suddenly, all business functions are aligned towards a low carbon future. Sustainability is permeated throughout all operations, instead of being siloed into one department.

The benefits of embedding emissions intelligence into your platform

Leaders in expense management, procurement, and logistics platforms are realising the commercial benefits of emissions intelligence. They’re using it to plug their green gap. In doing so, they impress their customers by reducing emissions data collection costs.

The result is increased product stickiness, customer loyalty, and brand equity. All while helping build a low carbon future. For example, Payhawk used Lune’s emissions intelligence to launch Payhawk Green. It was adopted by 200+ customers in just six months, proving the value of green features.

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