CEnv Profile | Net Zero Carbon Strategies and Decarbonisation | Pete Schofield

What does an average day look like in your career?

As Senior Director, Climate & Carbon at Arthian, my time is typically split between technical leadership, client advisory work, programme management, business development and supporting my team. I lead the Climate Change & Carbon Group and sit on the Board of Directors for Arthian, with responsibility for shaping and delivering Net Zero Carbon Strategies and Decarbonisation Programmes for public and private sector clients across the UK and overseas.  

A typical day may involve reviewing a greenhouse gas inventory, advising a client on Scope 3 emissions, supporting a client with Science Based Target or a Net Zero Roadmap, reviewing a carbon assurance output, or working with project teams to translate complex emissions data into practical reduction opportunities. A significant part of my role is also about communication – helping boards, directors, sustainability managers and operational teams understand what their data means and what decisions they need to make next. 

How did you get to where you are now?   

My route into the profession started with a Master’s degree in Environmental Science, followed by consultancy roles focused on environmental management, auditing, carbon management and compliance. Over time, my work increasingly focused on climate change, carbon accounting and decarbonisation, which led me to specialise in Net Zero Carbon Strategies, carbon reporting, greenhouse gas verification and sustainability assurance.  

I have now worked in environmental consultancy and training for over 15 years, progressing into senior technical and leadership roles, including Director appointments and my current role as Senior Director, Climate & Carbon at Arthian which reflects the leadership and governance responsibilities I have held alongside my technical consultancy career.  

A key part of my journey has been combining technical depth with practical delivery. I have led and delivered hundreds of consultancy projects, from short-term technical commissions to complex, multi-year programmes, supporting organisations at different stages of their sustainability and decarbonisation journey.

In what ways does your role consider and protect the environment?  

My role is fundamentally about helping organisations understand, manage and reduce their environmental impact. Much of my work focuses on measuring greenhouse gas emissions, identifying emissions hotspots and developing practical Net Zero and decarbonisation pathways. This includes Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 carbon accounting, Carbon Reduction Plans, Science Based Targets, climate transition planning, Whole Life Carbon Assessment and supply chain decarbonisation.  

I also support organisations to improve environmental governance through ESG strategies, sustainability reporting, climate risk management, ISO management systems, carbon assurance and environmental compliance. This means my role is not only about calculating emissions, but helping clients make better decisions, embed accountability and create practical action plans that reduce impacts over time.  

Throughout my career I have worked across an exceptionally diverse range of sectors, including local and national government, healthcare, higher education, transport, rail infrastructure, construction, energy, manufacturing, food and drink, technology, real estate, professional services and international organisations. This breadth of experience has reinforced the importance of tailoring environmental solutions to the needs of each organisation while maintaining a clear focus on achieving tangible environmental outcomes. 

How has your focus on environmental impacts changed over the course of your career?

Earlier in my career, much of my work focused on environmental compliance, auditing, environmental management systems and operational environmental performance. Those foundations remain important, because regulatory compliance and good management systems are still essential to credible environmental performance.  

Over time, my focus has broadened significantly. I now spend much more time helping organisations understand climate-related risks, greenhouse gas emissions, Scope 3 value chain impacts, carbon reduction pathways, and long-term transition planning. This reflects the way the profession has evolved: environmental management is no longer only about controlling direct impacts; it is increasingly about strategic decision-making, investment planning, governance, resilience and transformation across whole organisations and supply chains.  

I have also seen a significant shift from simply measuring and reporting carbon emissions towards embedding carbon management within decision-making, design and delivery processes. Earlier in my career, much of the focus was on establishing credible greenhouse gas baselines, reporting emissions and setting reduction targets. While these remain important foundations, organisations are now increasingly seeking to understand how carbon data can be used to influence real-world outcomes.  

Today, the most progressive organisations are integrating carbon considerations into asset planning, design development, procurement and investment decisions. This is evident through the growing adoption of Whole Life Carbon Assessments (WLCA) for buildings and infrastructure, the implementation of PAS 2080 carbon management principles across major infrastructure programmes, and the increasing use of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to inform product selection and supply chain decisions.  

These developments represent a maturing of the profession, where carbon is no longer treated solely as a reporting requirement but as a key performance metric that influences how assets, products and services are designed, procured, delivered and operated. I see some of the greatest opportunities for environmental improvement where robust carbon data, commercial decision-making, engineering design, procurement strategies and behavioural change come together to deliver measurable and enduring reductions in environmental impact. 

Most importantly, CEnv helps raise the profile of environmental professionals as trusted advisors and leaders. Whether we work in consultancy, industry, government, academia or the third sector, our role is increasingly to help organisations make better decisions that balance environmental protection, social value, commercial reality and long-term resilience. That is a professional ambition worth encouraging.

What are the top three key knowledge areas that are crucial to your role?

1. Carbon accounting, reporting and assurance. A strong technical understanding of the GHG Protocol, ISO 14064, Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions, SECR, Carbon Reduction Plans, Science Based Targets and wider reporting frameworks is central to my role. Clients need credible, defensible and decision-useful emissions data before they can set targets or reduce impact effectively. 
2. Net Zero and decarbonisation strategy. It is essential to understand how emissions data translates into practical intervention: energy efficiency, low carbon heat, renewable generation, supply chain engagement, product carbon, whole lifecarbon and investment planning. Much of my role involves helping organisations move from ambition to practical, prioritised action. 
3. Communication, leadership and behaviour change. Technical knowledge only creates impact when it can be translated into clear decisions. My role regularly involves working with C-suite executives, directors, councillors, heads of service, sustainability managers and operational teams, so the ability to communicate complex climate and carbon issues clearly is vital.  

What part of your job do you find the most exciting?

The most exciting part of my job is helping organisations turn complex climate and carbon challenges into practical action. Many clients start with a large amount of data, uncertainty or ambition, but without a clear route forward. I enjoy helping them understand what their emissions mean, where the real hotspots are, what can be influenced, and how to prioritise actions that are technically credible, commercially realistic and aligned with wider organisational goals. This often involves translating complex technical concepts into practical strategies that enable organisations to make informed decisions and deliver measurable environmental outcomes. I also enjoy the breadth of sectors and challenges that I am exposed to, the variety keeps the work intellectually stimulating and continually reinforces the importance of tailoring solutions to the organisation, sector and people involved.  

Equally, one of the most rewarding aspects of my role is supporting the development of people within my own organisation. As the leader of Arthian’s Climate & Carbon Group, I have the opportunity to mentor and develop consultants at different stages of their careers, helping them build technical expertise, commercial awareness and the confidence to become trusted advisors in their own right. I take great pride in creating opportunities for individuals to progress professionally, develop specialist skills and achieve their career aspirations. Building a positive culture, investing in people and fostering an environment where talented professionals can thrive is essential to our ambition of being an employer of choice within the environmental and sustainability sector. Seeing team members grow in confidence, take on new responsibilities and progress into leadership positions is every bit as rewarding as delivering successful outcomes for clients. 

What are your 3 top tips for those applying for CEnv?

1. Use real evidence, not generic statements. The CEnv process is an opportunity to demonstrate professional competence through practical examples. I would encourage applicants to identify projects where they have personally influenced outcomes, applied professional judgement, managed risk or improved environmental performance. 
2. Reflect on your development, not just your achievements.CEnv is not only about technicalexpertise; it is also about professional maturity, ethics, leadership, continual improvement and the ability to learn from experience. Your CPD, professional judgement and reflective practice are just as important as your project portfolio. 
3. Show the link between technical work and environmental outcomes. The strongest applications explain not only what you did, but why it mattered. Whether your work relates to compliance, carbon, biodiversity, water, waste, planning, energy or environmental management, be clear about how your contribution helped protect or improve the environment

Why would you encourage others in your sector to aspire to become a registered environmental professional?

I would encourage others to aspire to become a CEnv because it is a strong mark of professional credibility, technical competence and commitment to environmental responsibility. For me, Chartered Environmentalist status is a way of demonstrating that environmental professionals can bring both technical rigour and practical leadership to some of the most important challenges facing organisations and society.  

It is also valuable because it encourages continual professional development. Environmental practice is changing quickly, particularly around climate change, Net Zero, carbon accounting, ESG, nature, resilience and reporting. CEnv provides a professional framework that encourages individuals to keep developing, maintain standards and apply their expertise responsibly.  

Most importantly, CEnv helps raise the profile of environmental professionals as trusted advisors and leaders. Whether we work in consultancy, industry, government, academia or the third sector, our role is increasingly to help organisations make better decisions that balance environmental protection, social value, commercial reality and long-term resilience. That is a professional ambition worth encouraging.