carbonalso

Carbonalso is a term used in environmental policy and accounting to describe an integrated framework for managing carbon emissions alongside other ecological and social co-benefits. The name blends carbon with the word also to emphasize that climate outcomes should be considered together with biodiversity, soil health, water quality, and human well-being. It is not a formal standard and has no single official definition.

Concept and scope: A carbonalso framework would pair conventional carbon accounting—emissions inventories, offsets, and carbon pricing—with broader metrics such as species diversity, soil organic carbon, ecosystem resilience, and local livelihoods. Proponents argue that this approach helps prevent trade-offs where carbon-focused policies adversely affect biodiversity or social outcomes. In discussions, implementations are typically described as multi-criteria reporting, integrated assessment, and policy cross-checks intended to align climate action with other environmental objectives.

Status and reception: The term appears mainly in policy blogs, think-tank papers, and interdisciplinary studies; it has limited uptake in formal regulatory contexts or peer-reviewed literature. Critics say the lack of standard definitions, measurement challenges, and potential for scope creep can complicate governance and dilute carbon-market incentives.

See also: carbon accounting, co-benefits, life-cycle assessment, multi-criteria decision analysis.