Climate Technology Product Specification Template

Carbon accounting. It is the data foundation for every other feature: ESG reports, target setting, reduction planning, and benchmarking all depend on accurate, auditable emissions calculations. If the accounting engine produces numbers that do not survive third-party assurance, the entire platform loses credibility. Start with Scope 1 and 2 (where data is more available) and build Scope 3 iteratively.

Build a common data model that captures the most granular data points across all frameworks. Then create framework-specific mapping layers that pull the right data into the right disclosure format. The key insight is that most frameworks ask for overlapping data in different structures. A well-designed data model means entering data once and reporting to many. Use the [PRD template](/templates/prd-template) to spec the mapping engine as a separate feature area.

Include at least spend-based Scope 3 estimates in the MVP. Most enterprise buyers will not adopt a carbon accounting platform that ignores 70 to 90% of their footprint. The spend-based approach uses procurement data and industry-average emission factors, which requires no supplier engagement. Add primary supplier data collection as a v2 feature once you have the procurement integration working.

Design a factor management module with versioning. Each factor has an effective date range. When new factors are published (usually annually), the platform imports them as a new version without overwriting the old one. Historical calculations use the factors that were effective at the time. Provide a recalculation workflow that lets sustainability teams recompute a base year with updated factors and document the restatement.

ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) for Scope 3 spend data and utility data providers for Scope 2 are the two highest-priority integrations. Business travel data from expense platforms (Concur, Navan) is a close third. Fleet telematics (Geotab, Samsara) matters for companies with significant vehicle fleets. Prioritize integrations based on which data sources cover the largest share of your target customers' emissions, using frameworks like [RICE](/frameworks/rice-framework) to score them. ---