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EcoCounts
EcoCounts is a North London charity aiming to revolutionise the way we account for CO2 emissions. Our methodology involves participants meticulously recording their personal carbon footprint, derived from their daily purchases and activities. Our objective is to implement carbon budgets for participants, eventually progressing towards the implementation of personal carbon trading.
Description

Join us for our Literature Review in Personal Carbon Accounting project

The Research Volunteering programme through the Community Research Initiative gives YOU the power to take your research and classroom skills out into the community to create a positive social impact. Through our bite size projects, you’ll work with a group of interdisciplinary peers and organisational allies to tackle a project that will draw on your research skills. These projects are flexible and designed with students in mind to give you amazing experience to fuel your CV, explore new skills, and meet other likeminded students. Each opportunity is unique, make sure to check out our page for more information.

All about the organisation

EcoCounts is a North London charity aiming to revolutionise the way we account for CO2 emissions. Our methodology involves participants meticulously recording their personal carbon footprint, derived from their daily purchases and activities. Our objective is to implement carbon budgets for participants, eventually progressing towards the implementation of personal carbon trading. This unique system allows individuals within our group to trade carbon emissions, empowering everyone to manage their emissions effectively while collectively reducing the overall carbon footprint of the community. To achieve this we need a high level of accuracy in our information not obtainable from the use of online carbon calculators or broad estimates.

A bit about the project

This project is in its second phase with an already established group of stellar UCL volunteers, this gives you the chance to join the momentum to support EcoCounts, a North London charity on a mission to reinvent how we understand and reduce our personal carbon footprints. We have already done an intial project plan that includes breaking our literature review into three subtopics: 

  • calculations and estimations
  • carbon allowances and trading
  • behaviour change

We are looking to add to our team to start delving into the literature!

What can I expect from this opportunity?
  • Explore the newest academic and industry work on individual carbon accounting.
  • Work closely with the EcoCounts team, responding to feedback and sharing progress.
  • Produce a clear summary of best practice and recommendations for their methodology.
  • Gain hands‑on experience in climate research, sustainability innovation, and evidence‑based decision‑making.
How will my work on this project impact the community?
  • Strengthen EcoCounts’ ability to build a credible, trustworthy carbon‑tracking system.
  • Help participants understand and reduce their personal carbon footprints.
  • Support the development of community‑based carbon budgeting and trading.
  • Provide the research foundation needed to scale a new model of climate action.
  • Empower local groups to collectively lower their emissions.
Duties

What key tasks will the volunteer team be responsible for? 

Project Kick Off & Intro to the Research Volunteering Programme

Your kick off meeitng

You'll meet with the organisation and the rest of your research team in a project kick off meeting. You will work together to set up a schedule for the project, decide on ways of working, and figure out a work plan so that your project can be a success. This meeting should be organised by the charity's staff lead for the project and should provide you with proper induction and training for your role. 

Induction to the Research Volunteering Programme

Keep an eye out in your inbox, the Community Research Initiative team will be sending you your induction information so you feel supported and engaged in the Research Volunteering programme. Here's what's included:

  • Get 1:1 support from our specialized research and community engagement team Got questions about methods, research approaches, or data? Want to chat through ideas, career prospects, or just get some support? Book online and meet us on Teams or in person 
  • Join our events, from community research methods tasters to community field trips, you can dive deeper into the world of community research
  • Flex your professional development through our annual showcase: present a poster, share your story, get that great experience for the ol' CV
Update the Evidence Base with New Research
  • Search for the latest academic and industry work across one of three key areas within carbon accounting; 
    • calculations and estimations
    • carbon allowances and trading
    • behaviour change
  • Compare new methodologies, tools, and best practices.
  • Highlight emerging trends and innovations.
Analyse and Synthesise Best Practice
  • Identify what makes a methodology credible, user‑friendly, and scalable.
  • Evaluate feasibility for EcoCounts’ carbon budgeting model and community approach.
  • Develop clear, actionable recommendations for their methodology.
Produce and Present a Final Report
  • Write a structured, accessible summary of findings and recommendations.
  • Present insights to the EcoCounts team.
  • Respond promptly to feedback and refine the report as needed.
Share back with the Community Research Initiative Team

You've done it! You will have completed an amazing socially impactful research project through the Research Volunteering Programme at your Students' Union. Our team will reach out to ask you for a bit of feedback, some stories about your experience, and invite you to take part in our annual showcase, where you can share the findings and insights from your project. 

 

What skills will I practice and develop during this experience?

  • Literature review and critical analysis, across academic and industry sources.
  • Sustainability and climate knowledge, especially carbon accounting.
  • Professional writing, producing clear, evidence‑based reports.
  • Systems thinking, understanding how individual actions scale to group impact.
  • Collaboration and communication, through regular liaison with EcoCounts.
  • Problem‑solving, identifying gaps and proposing research‑backed improvements.
  • Project organisation, managing sources, deadlines, and feedback loops.
Who will the volunteers be working with?
Adam Hardy
Training
None

Time commitment

Weekly progress is expected, but specific hours will be decided with volunteers. Students can be flexible with their hours around their studies.
Application deadline

Causes

UCL Departments

This organisation is one of our community partner organisations.

Like all volunteer recruiters we work with, they have signed up to our service standards, agreeing to abide by our policy on partnership working to keep you safe and supported whilst you volunteer.

You’ll never be out of pocket for volunteering through us – with in-London travel expenses to and from your volunteering guaranteed.

In addition, the team here at Students’ Union UCL Volunteering Service is here to support you throughout your volunteering journey – you can get in touch with us at any time.