Why we moved our 2026 conference to Senate House
The Carbon Accounting Alliance Conference will take place on 6 October 2026.
After careful consideration, we have decided to move the event from the Science Museum to Senate House, a University of London building in Bloomsbury.
This was not a decision we took lightly. We wanted to explain why we made this change, and how it reflects the values and purpose of the Carbon Accounting Alliance.
Who we are and why this matters
The Carbon Accounting Alliance exists to support the professionalisation, credibility and integrity of carbon accounting. Our members include corporate practitioners, academics, software providers, consultants and non-profits working at the forefront of greenhouse gas accounting, reporting and claims.
Carbon accounting sits at the heart of climate action. It shapes investment decisions, regulatory compliance, corporate climate strategy and public trust. That is why independence, transparency and credibility matter so deeply to our community.
Concerns raised by our members
Over recent weeks, several CAA members raised concerns about the Science Museum’s historic and ongoing ties with the fossil fuel industry. While we were aware of some sponsorship relationships, we were not fully aware of their extent or prominence.
These concerns intensified following new allegations reported by The Guardian regarding the influence of BP on education programmes run by the museum. While the museum has denied these allegations, and the reality may be more complex than any single account suggests, the resulting public narrative created a context we did not feel comfortable operating within.
More broadly, members highlighted previous relationships with Shell and Equinor, as well as the museum’s recent partnership with Adani Green Energy, a company whose parent company’s core business remains coal extraction and has been the reason behind previous boycotts.
For many in the carbon accounting community, these associations sit uneasily alongside the need for credible, independent and science-based climate work.
Listening to our community
Even where engagement by purpose-led organisations can, in theory, help shift institutional funding models over time, we believe it is essential to listen carefully to our members and to minimise reputational and ethical risks.
We were also aware that at least one potential delegate would have chosen to boycott the event because of the venue. That alone was enough for us to act.
Our role as convenors is not only to deliver a strong programme, but to create a space where participants feel aligned with the setting, the hosts and the values underpinning the event.
Why Senate House is a strong fit
We are genuinely excited about Senate House as an alternative venue.
Senate House is part of the University of London and is centrally located in Bloomsbury. The venue offers generous breakout spaces, allowing us to adapt the format slightly and run more interactive sessions alongside the main programme. It also enables us to host post-conference food and drinks on site until 23:00, creating better conditions for informal discussion and networking.
Importantly, our due diligence has not identified major controversies associated with the University of London, and the federation has not hosted conferences or events with the fossil fuel industry.
Looking ahead
We remain fully committed to delivering a high-quality, thoughtful and welcoming conference that reflects the values of the carbon accounting community.
If you would like to get involved, go to our conference page for more information and to:
Submit speaker nominations and topic suggestions to help shape the agenda
Secure your ticket while super early bird pricing is available until 15 February
Get in touch regarding sponsorship opportunities, which are essential to making the event possible
We are very much looking forward to welcoming the community to Senate House in October.
Many thanks,
Emilien
Co-founder, Carbon Accounting Alliance