While traditional carbon accounting tools focus on the emissions generated during activities, they do not capture the longer-term benefits research can deliver, such as emissions avoided through the creation of new technologies, new policies and the consequential behavioural changes. PACER responds to this gap by shifting focus from the emissions directly produced by research to the emissions research could help to avoid.
The PACER (Potential Avoidance of Carbon Emissions through Research) Framework and Toolkit provide a practical methodology to assess how research could contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions at scale. The framework enables researchers to:
- Assess future, system-wide carbon savings
- Capture indirect and downstream impacts
- Account for uncertainty, behaviour change and policy influences
- Using quantitative and qualitative insights across the research lifecycle
Developed through the Centre for Postdoctoral Development in Infrastructure, Cities and Energy (C-DICE), the PACER comprises three parts, a framework, to assess the future emissions in research or research proposal; a self‑guided online training tool, teaching how to optimise the framework using case studies and practical exercises; a peer‑reviewed journal article in Carbon Management, co‑authored by Loughborough University and the University of Birmingham, which introduces and validates the PACER framework as a method for assessing avoided emissions from research. The toolkit has been designed to be applied across disciplines and support innovation in areas ranging from energy systems and infrastructure to policy and behavioural change.
Through PACER, researchers can articulate how their work contributes to net zero and societal outcomes, identifying key drivers of carbon avoidance early, and shape projects to maximise impact (or minimise unintended negative consequences). The scenario-based analysis in PACER supports strategic planning, accounting for uncertainty and real-world complexity, ultimately serving to increase confidence from funders and project partners on the impact of research or collaboration.
Read more about PACER, download the framework, and register for the toolkit
For more information contact Sharon Henson, Loughborough University Research Academy.