FIDIC CARBON MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK (CMF)
SUMMARY FOR GLOBAL AUDIENCES
WHAT IS THE CARBON MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK?
The Carbon Management Framework (CMF) is a practical guide that helps project teams manage whole life carbon emissions in infrastructure projects. It provides clear, step-by-step actions that work for projects of any size, in any country, and at any stage of development. Managing whole life carbon can also lead to whole life cost efficiencies.
The CMF does not replace existing standards and guidance. Instead, it complements them by offering simple and accessible guidance to help project teams integrate carbon reduction into everyday decision-making.
WHO IS IT FOR?
The CMF is targeted at project teams delivering infrastructure projects. The project teams include members from different organizations - ranging from clients, designers, planners, architects, contractors, product and material suppliers.
The CMF is about bringing whole life carbon management to the hands of all project delivery team practitioners instead of being a secondary project objective management solely by specialist sustainability professionals.
WHY IT MATTERS
• Lower Costs & Better Outcomes: Low-carbon and resource-efficient solutions often result in lower cost and better outcomes as carbon can be seen as a proxy to resource efficiency.
• Smarter Design: Solutions such as nature-based approaches or building less can deliver more durable and resilient solutions.
• Access to Finance: Sustainable and low-carbon projects reduce climate and financial risks, improving their attractiveness to investors, financiers, and governments.
• Global Impact: Reducing project emissions supports international climate goals and strengthens competitiveness.
• Practical & Accessible: CMF provides step-by-step guidance and simple FAQs works for teams new to carbon management.
• Globally Relevant: Applicable in regions with both emerging and advanced practices.
SEVEN CORE COMPONENTS
The CMF is built around seven carbon management components that are widely recognized in the industry and existing standards:
Continual Improvement
Learning from every project and sharing knowledge.
Procurement
Embedding carbon in contracts and driving the right behaviours.
Collaboration
Working together across teams and supply chains.
Leadership & Accountability
Clear carbon responsibility by all in a project team.
Carbon Assessment
Measuring emissions across the whole project lifecycle.
Baseline & Targets
Setting benchmarks and carbon reduction goals.
