Cambridge LOR Centre researchers drive global carbon management in infrastructure

At the FIDIC Global Infrastructure Conference in Cape Town, industry leaders came together for a powerful, action-oriented session: “The FIDIC Carbon Collaboration Initiative in Practice: Measuring and Managing Carbon in Infrastructure", which featured the latest work supported by Cambridge LOR Centre researchers Tercia Jansen van Vuuren and Dr Saul Jones. The initiative aims to create a common, replicable and standardised framework to embed carbon measurement and management into infrastructure planning, procurement, delivery, and operation. Through defining increasing levels of maturity in seven components of carbon management, the framework provides a simple and accessible gateway for implementing carbon reductions in infrastructure. The Beta version of the CMF is available for use, and FIDIC welcomes feedback and commentary.

Opening the session, Jens-Peter Saul, CEO of Ramboll and Chair of the CMF Working Group, introduced the Carbon Management Framework as a common, replicable and standardised tool to embed carbon measurement and management into mainstream infrastructure planning, procurement and finance. He highlighted its role in creating a shared language and baseline for global alignment, comparability and credibility across the sector.

The session highlighted the CMF’s role as a shared language for carbon management, enabling global alignment, comparability, and credibility across infrastructure projects. Early results from a South African pilot project demonstrated how the framework is already being adapted on the ground. The CMF has the potential to transform procurement by making carbon management a standard requirement rather than an afterthought, and it can support multilateral development banks in bringing consistency to project carbon data, unlocking climate-aligned investment at scale.

“The CMF is not just about carbon accounting. It’s about shifting culture, enabling transparency, and ensuring that infrastructure investment delivers on climate goals, especially where it matters most,” said Susanna Zammataro, FIDIC CEO.

Learn more about the CMF pilot programme