The C-DICE PACER Framework and Toolkit: A Step Change in Carbon Impact Assessment for Research

The C-DICE PACER Framework and Toolkit: A Step Change in Carbon Impact Assessment for Research

Achieving net zero carbon emissions is one of the defining challenges of our time and research and innovation sit at its heart. From new energy systems to policy innovation and digital technologies, research has enormous potential to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Yet demonstrating that potential impact has long been a missing piece of the puzzle.

To help with this problem, C-DICE has created the PACER Framework and toolkit – a robust new approach that enables researchers to assess the potential avoidance of carbon emissions arising from their work. This came from an initial question on what the future impact on emissions could be from research generated in C-DICE through fellowships and other initiatives. Developed with case studies from the C-DICE programme and underpinned by peer-reviewed research, PACER represents a significant step forward in understanding the potential for the real-world impact of research on carbon emissions.

What is PACER?

PACER stands for Potential Avoidance of Carbon Emissions through Research. It is a structured framework designed to assess how research outputs could reduce greenhouse gas emissions if implemented at scale. Traditional carbon accounting focuses on emissions produced during activities (Scopes 1, 2 and 3). However, these approaches do not capture the broader, longer-term societal benefits that research can enable such as emissions avoided through widespread adoption of new technologies, policies or behaviours.

PACER addresses this gap by:

• Assessing future, system-wide carbon avoidance
• Capturing indirect and downstream impacts of research
• Incorporating uncertainty, behaviour change and policy influences
• Supporting qualitative and quantitative assessments across all research stages

Put simply, PACER reframes the question from “what emissions does this research produce?” to “what emissions could this research help to avoid?”. PACER can also inform how to create the best outcomes from research by demonstrating the potential for avoiding emissions based on different scenarios, which could in turn inform research design or routes to scalability for the greatest impact.

Why PACER Now?

There is increasing demand from funders, institutions and policymakers to demonstrate the societal impact of research, particularly in relation to net zero ambitions. Yet until now, there has been no consistent method for assessing potential carbon avoidance across diverse research portfolios. PACER provides a common, adaptable approach that can be applied:

• Across disciplines – from engineering, science, social science and policy
• Across development stages – from early research concepts and ideas to mature technologies
• Across impact types – technological, behavioural and systemic

This enables more meaningful communication of research value and supports better-informed decisions around funding, collaboration and implementation. Given this breadth, PACER could also be applied to close-to-market innovations or to inform industry.

Backed by Peer-Reviewed Research

The PACER framework is introduced in a peer-reviewed paper published in Carbon Management.

The paper responds to a clear gap in existing methodologies. While current tools allow for lifecycle or policy-based carbon assessments, they do not adequately address potential future avoided emissions associated with research and innovation.

Using Real Case Studies from C-DICE Researchers

The paper demonstrates PACER through a series of case studies based on research funded by C-DICE. These examples highlight the framework’s flexibility and real-world applicability.

• Offshore wind smart sensors show how PACER can quantify impact, estimating 6.0–9.27 MtCO₂e [KN2] avoided emissions by 2050.
• Climate policy research demonstrates PACER’s ability to capture systemic, non-quantifiable impacts.
• Smart building technologies illustrate how early-stage research can use PACER to explore future impact pathways.
• RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) assessment tools reveal how PACER can highlight trade-offs, including where innovations may increase emissions while delivering wider societal benefits.

Together, these examples show how PACER works across different disciplines, maturity levels and types of impact.

Using the PACER Framework in your research: The PACER Toolkit

To support widespread adoption, the PACER framework is accompanied by an open-access, free-to-use toolkit for any researcher. The toolkit provides:

• Step-by-step guidance for applying the framework to your current or proposed research
• Structured modular training with video, activities, and reading materials
• A micro-credential “Assessing Potential Avoided Carbon Emissions for Research” on completion of the toolkit.

Benefits for Researchers – why should you use it?

In short, the toolkit will help you to improve your research and understand and communicate its impact, uncovering how its application may yield the best outcomes from a research design and carbon perspective. Through PACER, you will be able to articulate how your work contributes to net zero and societal outcomes, identifying key drivers of carbon avoidance early, and shape projects to maximise impact (or minimise unintended negative consequences). The scenario-based analysis in PACER supports strategic planning, accounting for uncertainty and real-world complexity, which in turn could increase confidence from funders and your project partners on the impact of your research or collaboration.

At its heart, PACER has been designed to be transparent, and to ensure that potential future impact and actual emissions are distinguished from each other, this should help to avoid overstating potential emissions, and reducing the risks of misinterpretation of your outcome.

Furthermore, the PACER framework can be applied at different stages of research, meaning it can be applied at different stages of your project lifecycle.  This will allow you to monitor how the impact is evolving, and create a narrative around methods you have chosen; impact you anticipate; or policy interventions required for the maximum benefit. Being able, through PACER, to highlight trade-offs or unintended consequences of research means that you can take an ‘eyes open’ approach to research development.

A New Way to Think About Research Impact

PACER represents a shift in how we understand research impact in the context of climate change. It recognises that:

• Impact lies in future outcomes, not just present outputs
• Carbon effects emerge through systems and behaviours, not isolated actions or technological developments
• Uncertainty should be explored, not avoided

By combining methodological rigour with practical flexibility, PACER provides a powerful new way to connect research with real-world climate outcomes.

Get Started With PACER

The PACER framework and toolkit are available to support researchers in demonstrating and maximising carbon impact.

Whether you are developing a new idea or delivering applied research, PACER enables you to clearly show how your work contributes to a net zero future.

It’s time to move beyond measuring emissions and start understanding how research can help avoid them. We hope you agree –

If you use PACER we’d love to hear about your experience