Amy Brachio on COP31, Product Carbon Accounting, and Industrial Decarbonization

At COP31, Carbon Measures CEO Amy Brachio argues that product-level carbon accounting needs to move from a reporting exercise to a basis for investment and trade policy. She calls for mandatory product carbon intensity standards that create durable demand for lower-carbon steel, cement, and other industrial goods, and for a common framework that companies can use across jurisdictions without duplicating reporting. The article also covers the EU CBAM timeline, California's LCFS targets, and China's Carbon Footprint Management System, plus Carbon Measures' first pilot in Singapore and new Asia-Pacific hub. Brachio's core point is that industrial decarbonization will not scale if lower-carbon products stay a premium niche. Companies and lenders need policy certainty before committing capital to plants and equipment that will operate for decades. A unified product carbon intensity framework, with verifiable data and clear demand signals, can turn carbon performance into a competitive advantage. The article is useful for anyone tracking carbon accounting standards, border adjustment mechanisms, or climate finance tied to industrial supply chains.