SECTORS / GICS-201020

Architecture & Engineering · Architecture, Engineering & Design

← all sectors

Designers (AECOM, Arup, Foster + Partners, Mott MacDonald, Buro Happold) specify what gets built. Their own footprint is consulting-shaped, but their downstream influence — the buildings + infrastructure they design — represents the largest leverage point in the construction value chain.

Companies tracked
3
Phase 2 cohort
With SBTi target
0/ 3
0% coverage
Reporting years
2020–2025
latest disclosed per firm
SBTi coverage
0%of 3 firms

Where this sector sits globally

Median operational intensity (Carbon / USDm OpEx) per sector · log scale · click any dot to switch
8 sectors
10
100
1.0k
10k
← cleanest: Consulting (29.6)dirtiest: Real Estate Services (2.4k) →
Key carbon drivers
  • Office energy
    HQ + studio energy. Grid-bound.
    Scope 1 + 2
  • Business travel
    Project travel, site inspections, client visits. Significant for global firms.
    Scope 3 · cat 6
  • Capital goods + IT
    Workstations, BIM software, rendering hardware, plotters.
    Scope 3 · cat 2
  • Specified asset embodied carbon
    The buildings + infrastructure the firm specifies. Tracked under RIBA Climate Challenge as a self-disclosure metric, not a Scope 3 category.
    (out of formal scope, in WLCA)
Scope references follow the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard + Scope 3 Standard.
Reference transition plan
SBTi 1.5°C + Architects Declare + RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge

RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge sets per-typology operational + embodied targets for designed buildings. Architects Declare commits firms to advocate + design for net zero. SBTi corporate pathway covers own operations.

Methodology
MethodologyWhy specifications matter — designers shape what gets built
An architect choosing CLT over concrete cuts embodied carbon by ~50% on a typical building. An engineer specifying heat pumps over gas boilers locks in 30 years of operational decarbonisation. The firm's own Scope 1+2 is tiny; the long-term carbon impact of every project specification is enormous.

Sector benchmarks · headline intensities

Per-company latest year · USD-normalised at 12-month average rates · snapshot 2026-05-05
3 firms in cohort

Each strip shows where every firm in the cohort sits on one intensity axis. Lower is better — left of the strip is best, right is worst. Each peer dot tooltips its value and the year it came from. Financial denominators are converted to USD before computing so cross-currency comparisons are apples-to-apples.

Revenue intensity

Carbon / USDm revenue
n=0
no firms in this cohort have the inputs needed for this intensity

Operational intensity

Carbon / USDm OpEx
n=0
no firms in this cohort have the inputs needed for this intensity

Economic intensity

Carbon / USDm EVIC
n=0
no firms in this cohort have the inputs needed for this intensity

Asset intensity

Carbon / USDm PP&E + leased
n=0
no firms in this cohort have the inputs needed for this intensity

Workforce intensity

Carbon / FTE
n=1 · median 0.60 · IQR 0.600.60
0.00
0.09
0.19
0.28
0.38
0.47
0.57
0.66
median 0.60

Companies · 3 firms

+ Add company
RVB IDCompanyTickerSubtypeHQRevenueOperationalEconomicAssetWorkforceSources
RVBA-AECOMAECOMACMEngineering & ConstructionUnited States
SBTiCDPReport
RVBA-STANTStantecSTNEngineering & ConstructionCanada0.60
SBTiCDPReport
RVBA-TETRATetra TechTTEKEngineering & ConstructionUnited States
SBTiCDPReport

Reference carbon factors · Architecture & Engineering

Authoritative benchmark factors curated from published sources. Citation-anchored · pre-pilot vintage · refreshed manually as new releases land.

Below sit every reference factor relevant to a architecture & engineering firm. Use these as starting points when you need to estimate emissions for a category the cohort doesn't disclose, or to spot-check disclosed figures against the consensus range. Each value is anchored to the published source — click any source slug to open the citation.

Factors curated
67
Sources
4
Categories
33
Latest vintage
2024
Sources (4) · Geographies: GLOBAL, GB, AE, DE, FR, IN, JP, US, EU, NO, PT, AT, CA, DK, CH, NL, IT
DESNZ Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors2024 v1.1 (Oct 2024 reissue)activity based· Open Government Licence v3.0
DEFRA UK consumption-based spend factors by SIC2022 footprint (published April 2025)spend based· Open Government Licence v3.0
USEEIO / EPA Supply Chain GHG Emission Factorsv1.3.0 (USEEIOv2.2.22-GHG, BEA 2017 Detail, 2022 inventory)spend based· Public Domain (US Government work)
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 (MRIO consumption-based)3.8.2 (2021 release, 2019 base year)spend based· CC-BY-SA 4.0

Spend-based (per currency unit) 6 categories · 40 factors

Multiply spend (in the stated currency, in the stated reference year) by the factor to estimate kgCO2e for that category of procurement. Spend-based factors carry material uncertainty but are useful when you have no activity data.

Accounting and tax services

2.0× spread
ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.0690kgCO2e/GBPGB2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
defra_sic_2022
purchaser · GBP 2022
SIC 69.2. DEFRA consumption-based (UK MRIO) — captures imports unlike USEEIO production-based.
0.0873kgCO2e/USDGB2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
defra_sic_2022
purchaser · USD 2022
SIC 69.2. Native unit is GBP — converted to USD via static FX 0.79 GBP/USD for cross-source comparison. Recompute with accounting-period FX for production calculations.
0.0540kgCO2e/USDUS2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
useeio_v1_3
purchaser · USD 2022
USEEIO commodity 541200. NAICS 541211. Purchaser price (with margins). Multiply 2022 USD spend × value to get kgCO2e.
0.0427kgCO2e/GBPUS2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
useeio_v1_3
purchaser · GBP 2022
USEEIO commodity 541200, converted USD→GBP at static rate (0.79). For production, recompute with the accounting-period FX rate.

Engineering services

3.0× spread
ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.2405kgCO2e/USDGB2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
defra_sic_2022
purchaser · USD 2022
SIC 71. Native unit is GBP — converted to USD via static FX 0.79 GBP/USD for cross-source comparison. Recompute with accounting-period FX for production calculations.
0.1900kgCO2e/GBPGB2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
defra_sic_2022
purchaser · GBP 2022
SIC 71. DEFRA consumption-based (UK MRIO) — captures imports unlike USEEIO production-based.
0.0814kgCO2e/GBPUS2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
useeio_v1_3
purchaser · GBP 2022
USEEIO commodity 541300, converted USD→GBP at static rate (0.79). For production, recompute with the accounting-period FX rate.
0.1030kgCO2e/USDUS2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
useeio_v1_3
purchaser · USD 2022
USEEIO commodity 541300. NAICS 541330. Purchaser price (with margins). Multiply 2022 USD spend × value to get kgCO2e.

Environmental consulting services

1.3× spread
ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.0900kgCO2e/USDUS2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
useeio_v1_3
purchaser · USD 2022
USEEIO commodity 5416A0. NAICS 541620. Purchaser price (with margins). Multiply 2022 USD spend × value to get kgCO2e.
0.0711kgCO2e/GBPUS2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
useeio_v1_3
purchaser · GBP 2022
USEEIO commodity 5416A0, converted USD→GBP at static rate (0.79). For production, recompute with the accounting-period FX rate.

Legal services

2.0× spread
ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.0520kgCO2e/GBPGB2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
defra_sic_2022
purchaser · GBP 2022
SIC 69.1. DEFRA consumption-based (UK MRIO) — captures imports unlike USEEIO production-based.
0.0658kgCO2e/USDGB2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
defra_sic_2022
purchaser · USD 2022
SIC 69.1. Native unit is GBP — converted to USD via static FX 0.79 GBP/USD for cross-source comparison. Recompute with accounting-period FX for production calculations.
0.0324kgCO2e/GBPUS2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
useeio_v1_3
purchaser · GBP 2022
USEEIO commodity 541100, converted USD→GBP at static rate (0.79). For production, recompute with the accounting-period FX rate.
0.0410kgCO2e/USDUS2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
useeio_v1_3
purchaser · USD 2022
USEEIO commodity 541100. NAICS 541110. Purchaser price (with margins). Multiply 2022 USD spend × value to get kgCO2e.

Management consulting services

3.0× spread
ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.1494kgCO2e/USDGB2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
defra_sic_2022
purchaser · USD 2022
SIC 70. Native unit is GBP — converted to USD via static FX 0.79 GBP/USD for cross-source comparison. Recompute with accounting-period FX for production calculations.
0.1180kgCO2e/GBPGB2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
defra_sic_2022
purchaser · GBP 2022
SIC 70. DEFRA consumption-based (UK MRIO) — captures imports unlike USEEIO production-based.
0.1554kgCO2e/USDNO2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · USD 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for NO. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting. Converted EUR→USD at 2019 average FX 1.12.
0.1740kgCO2e/EURNO2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · EUR 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for NO. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting.
0.1406kgCO2e/USDPT2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · USD 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for PT. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting. Converted EUR→USD at 2019 average FX 1.12.
0.1575kgCO2e/EURPT2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · EUR 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for PT. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting.
0.1390kgCO2e/USDAT2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · USD 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for AT. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting. Converted EUR→USD at 2019 average FX 1.12.
0.1557kgCO2e/EURAT2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · EUR 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for AT. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting.
0.1184kgCO2e/USDCA2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · USD 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for CA. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting. Converted EUR→USD at 2019 average FX 1.12.
0.1326kgCO2e/EURCA2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · EUR 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for CA. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting.
0.1136kgCO2e/USDDK2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · USD 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for DK. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting. Converted EUR→USD at 2019 average FX 1.12.
0.1272kgCO2e/EURDK2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · EUR 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for DK. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting.
0.0684kgCO2e/USDCH2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · USD 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for CH. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting. Converted EUR→USD at 2019 average FX 1.12.
0.0766kgCO2e/EURCH2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · EUR 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for CH. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting.
0.0917kgCO2e/USDJP2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · USD 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for JP. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting. Converted EUR→USD at 2019 average FX 1.12.
0.1027kgCO2e/EURJP2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · EUR 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for JP. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting.
0.1091kgCO2e/USDNL2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · USD 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for NL. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting. Converted EUR→USD at 2019 average FX 1.12.
0.1222kgCO2e/EURNL2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · EUR 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for NL. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting.
0.1646kgCO2e/USDIT2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · USD 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for IT. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting. Converted EUR→USD at 2019 average FX 1.12.
0.1843kgCO2e/EURIT2019
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
exiobase_3_8_2
basic · EUR 2019
EXIOBASE 3.8.2 "Other business services" (NACE 74 bundle) for IT. Broader than USEEIO NAICS 541610 — includes legal, advertising, R&D alongside management consulting.
0.0616kgCO2e/GBPUS2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
useeio_v1_3
purchaser · GBP 2022
USEEIO commodity 541610, converted USD→GBP at static rate (0.79). For production, recompute with the accounting-period FX rate.
0.0780kgCO2e/USDUS2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
useeio_v1_3
purchaser · USD 2022
USEEIO commodity 541610. NAICS 541610. Purchaser price (with margins). Multiply 2022 USD spend × value to get kgCO2e.

Other professional / scientific / technical services

3.0× spread
ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.1911kgCO2e/USDGB2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
defra_sic_2022
purchaser · USD 2022
SIC 74. Native unit is GBP — converted to USD via static FX 0.79 GBP/USD for cross-source comparison. Recompute with accounting-period FX for production calculations.
0.1510kgCO2e/GBPGB2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
defra_sic_2022
purchaser · GBP 2022
SIC 74. DEFRA consumption-based (UK MRIO) — captures imports unlike USEEIO production-based.
0.0632kgCO2e/GBPUS2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
useeio_v1_3
purchaser · GBP 2022
USEEIO commodity 5419A0, converted USD→GBP at static rate (0.79). For production, recompute with the accounting-period FX rate.
0.0800kgCO2e/USDUS2022
Cradle → gate
S1 · S2 loc · S3↑
useeio_v1_3
purchaser · USD 2022
USEEIO commodity 5419A0. NAICS 541990. Purchaser price (with margins). Multiply 2022 USD spend × value to get kgCO2e.

Activity-based (per physical unit) 27 categories · 27 factors

Multiply physical activity (passenger-km, kWh, room-night) by the factor to estimate kgCO2e. Gold standard — most accurate when you can collect the underlying activity data from invoices, expense reports, or operational systems.

Air travel — international (non-UK), economy

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.1346kgCO2e/passenger.kmGLOBAL2024
Well → wheel
S3↑
desnz_2024For flights that do not touch the UK. Used for non-UK-headquartered cohort firms reporting against the same DESNZ basis.

Air travel — long-haul, business class

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.5803kgCO2e/passenger.kmGB2024
Well → wheel
S3↑
desnz_2024Business class assumed to consume ~3× the seat-area of economy. Use this for senior-staff long-haul.

Air travel — long-haul, economy

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.2001kgCO2e/passenger.kmGB2024
Well → wheel
S3↑
desnz_2024

Air travel — long-haul, first class

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.8004kgCO2e/passenger.kmGB2024
Well → wheel
S3↑
desnz_2024

Air travel — long-haul, premium economy

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.3201kgCO2e/passenger.kmGB2024
Well → wheel
S3↑
desnz_2024

Air travel — short-haul, business class

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.2743kgCO2e/passenger.kmGB2024
Well → wheel
S3↑
desnz_2024

Air travel — short-haul, economy

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.1829kgCO2e/passenger.kmGB2024
Well → wheel
S3↑
desnz_2024

Air travel — UK domestic, average passenger

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.2726kgCO2e/passenger.kmGB2024
Well → wheel
S3↑
desnz_2024Includes 9% distance uplift + radiative forcing multiplier (~1.7×).

Coach

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.0272kgCO2e/passenger.kmGB2024
Well → wheel
S3↑
desnz_2024

Hotel stay, France

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
6.700kgCO2e/room-nightFR2024
Use phase
S3↑
desnz_2024Low because FR grid is ~70% nuclear + ~25% renewable — among the lowest-carbon in Europe.

Hotel stay, Germany

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
13.20kgCO2e/room-nightDE2024
Use phase
S3↑
desnz_2024

Hotel stay, India

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
58.90kgCO2e/room-nightIN2024
Use phase
S3↑
desnz_2024High because India grid is ~70% coal — air-conditioning load + grid mix push factor 5× FR.

Hotel stay, Japan

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
39.00kgCO2e/room-nightJP2024
Use phase
S3↑
desnz_2024

Hotel stay, UAE

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
63.80kgCO2e/room-nightAE2024
Use phase
S3↑
desnz_2024

Hotel stay, UK

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
10.40kgCO2e/room-nightGB2024
Use phase
S3↑
desnz_2024

Hotel stay, UK (London)

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
11.50kgCO2e/room-nightGB2024
Use phase
S3↑
desnz_2024

Hotel stay, USA

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
16.10kgCO2e/room-nightUS2024
Use phase
S3↑
desnz_2024

Natural gas — Scope 1 combustion (gross CV)

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.1829kgCO2e/kWhGB2024
Use phase
S1
desnz_2024UK gas suppliers bill in kWh on a Gross CV basis by default — use this unless your invoice explicitly states Net CV.

Natural gas — Scope 3 WTT (gross CV)

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.0302kgCO2e/kWhGB2024
Well → tank
S3↑
desnz_2024

Rail — international (Eurostar)

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.004460kgCO2e/passenger.kmEU2024
Well → wheel
S3↑
desnz_2024Very low because Eurostar runs on French/UK grid mix dominated by nuclear + renewables.

Rail — London Underground

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.0278kgCO2e/passenger.kmGB2024
Well → wheel
S3↑
desnz_2024

Rail — UK national

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.0355kgCO2e/passenger.kmGB2024
Well → wheel
S3↑
desnz_2024

Taxi — black cab

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.2040kgCO2e/passenger.kmGB2024
Well → wheel
S3↑
desnz_2024

Taxi — regular

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.1486kgCO2e/passenger.kmGB2024
Well → wheel
S3↑
desnz_2024

UK grid electricity — Scope 2 (location)

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.2071kgCO2e/kWhGB2024
Use phase
S2 loc
desnz_2024Use this for Scope 2 location-based reporting. For market-based, use supplier-specific or residual-mix factors instead.

UK grid electricity — Scope 3 T&D losses

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.0183kgCO2e/kWhGB2024
Use phase
S3↑
desnz_2024

UK grid electricity — Scope 3 well-to-tank

ValueUnitGeoYearScopeSourceNotes
0.0459kgCO2e/kWhGB2024
Well → tank
S3↑
desnz_2024

Reference factors are curated from the published sources at the indicated vintage and refreshed manually as new releases land. Apply with care: spend-based factors carry material uncertainty (often ±50%); activity-based factors require the right unit basis (e.g. gross vs net CV for natural gas, with-RF vs without-RF for air); product PCFs differ in lifecycle scope between vendors (Apple uses post-mitigation, others use pre-mitigation — we have aligned to pre-mitigation baselines for laptops). Re-check against the citation before any external-facing calculation.