
Nicole Sullivan
Director of Climate Services
Nicole is the Director of Climate Services for CarbonBetter, with 12 years of environmental and sustainability experience.
As an Environmental Engineer, Nicole has an extensive background in environmental and sustainability consulting, and voluntary and mandatory air quality and greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting. Over the last ten years, she has provided strategic consulting services within a range of industry sectors, including petrochemical, oil and gas, railroad, and manufacturing.
Her GHG reporting experience includes supporting multiple confidential oil and gas majors and assets in the upstream and midstream oil and gas industry segments in complying with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) mandatory GHG reporting requirements, while simultaneously supporting corporate and voluntary GHG reporting efforts and helping clients to evaluate GHG reduction opportunities. She also has experience selecting and implementing GHG metrics software applications, including Enablon and Cority.
Her experience with energy management includes conducting energy assessments in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 50001 energy management standard, and the EPA’s Boiler Maximum Available Control Technology (Boiler MACT) requirements. She has completed energy baselines and full energy assessments, performing calculations to quantify energy savings and return on investment analyses of proposed energy savings opportunities.
Nicole also has experience with climate protocol development. She supported the US National Park Service in developing desert spring sampling protocols to annually monitor springs in the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts and determine the impacts of climate change on spring systems. This included protocols to integrate weather monitoring systems into existing sampling plans to identify correlations between weather patterns and animal populations in desert areas near the United States and Mexico border in Arizona.
Nicole holds a MS in Environmental Engineering and a BS in Civil Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. She is originally from Georgia and enjoys spending her free time outdoors: playing tennis, swimming in Barton Springs, and exploring hiking and mountain biking trails throughout Texas.

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Common Greenwashing Terms & Examples
Learn about new and emerging greenwashing tactics, including strategies to help you avoid making misleading environmental claims for your organization.
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What are Scope 3 Emissions?
Unpacking Scope 3 carbon emissions by first defining what Scope 3 emissions are, with examples, then sharing three ways to manage these indirect emissions.
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Ask Us Anything Webinar Recap
Key takeaways from our recent Q&A webinar with our Director of Climate Services, Nicole Sullivan.
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An Overview of the FTC’s Green Guides
Learn the art of ethical marketing and storytelling with guidance from the FTC's Green Guides and our expert climate services team.
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Sustainability Reporting Frameworks, Standards, and Protocols: A Complete Guide
A guide to understanding the sustainability reporting ecosystem used for voluntary disclosures, as well as relevant regulations.
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Sustainability Reports
Earth Day 2023 Impacts Report
Our goal for this day of climate action is to show that small steps by many add up to a big positive impact.
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Sustainability Reports
Fierce Whiskers Distillery Sustainability Report
Fierce Whiskers is a minority-owned American bourbon distillery, focused on quality and sustainability from grain to glass. As of its 2022 report, Scope 3 emissions have been included.
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How to Make Progress Toward Your Sustainability Goals
Outlining actionable steps for businesses to achieve sustainability targets through continuous progress, strategic milestones, and timely adaptation.
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Criteria for High-Quality Carbon Credits
Comparing rating systems vs. protocols and defining top criteria to empower businesses with the knowledge to assess high-quality carbon credits.
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Fierce Whiskers Releases Carbon-Neutral Smoke + Mash Volume 1
In its first rye whiskey release, Fierce Whiskers has 454 bottles carbon-neutral bottles from barrels 255 and 270 ready to go.
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Permanence Considerations When Buying Carbon Credits
Defining permanence, including how it’s measured, and how to balance permanence with other considerations and co-benefits when buying carbon credits.
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How to Implement Carbon Accounting Software Effectively—And Do You Even Need It?
Carbon accounting software is not right for every business, but here's how to implement it effectively when it is necessary to use.
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Sustainability Consulting Confusion
What to look for when hiring a sustainability consulting firm for your business, and how CarbonBetter is different.
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Can You Trust Your Carbon Accounting Data?
How to ensure your organization's data is accurate and reliable, and avoid the risks associated with bad data.
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Carbon Emissions Intensity Explained
The metric that will give context to your total emissions as your business and carbon footprint both expand.
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SEC Climate Disclosure Rule: What’s in It?
A new SEC rule would require “consistent, comparable, and reliable” disclosure of climate-related risks and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from public companies.
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CarbonBetter Certified Offset (CBCO) Portfolios vs. Bespoke Carbon Offset Sourcing
Between our CarbonBetter Carbon Offset (CBCO) Portfolios and our bespoke carbon offset service, our team of carbon market experts can help you find the right solution for your business.
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Central Machine Works Announces Green Collar Beer Is Now Carbon Negative
In November 2022, Central Machine Works (CMW) Brewery in East Austin brewed the Green Collar Beer, a west coast style IPA dry hopped with Strata, Lorien, and Chinook hops from Indie Hop farms located in Oregon. All 3,151 pours of Green Collar beer at the CMW taproom are carbon negative and benefit the Save Our Spring Alliance.
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Preparing For Possible New SEC Climate-Related Regulations
Public companies may soon be required to report on climate-related risks and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Here’s how to prepare.
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Preparing for Potential Climate-Related Disclosure Requirements
Federal suppliers may face new requirements, and it's not too early to prepare. In this post, we navigate the complexities organizations face with the proposed new federal climate-related disclosure rule, and what you can do to prepare for if/when it goes into effect.
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Proposed New Emissions Disclosure Requirements for Over 5,000 US Businesses
The US government has issued a proposed new rule that would require most government suppliers to disclose carbon emissions.
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Sustainability Software vs. Spreadsheets
Sustainability software can help you quantify your carbon emissions, but you still need expertise to get it right.
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What Is Blue Carbon?
With coastal blue carbon habitats sequestering carbon at a rate 10 times greater than terrestrial forests, blue carbon ecosystems play an essential role in mitigating climate change and improving human well-being. So, what exactly is blue carbon?
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Edition #15 | Environment Forward
Welcome to Edition 15 of Environment Forward. Energy and metals transitions, cow burps, recyclability, and running shoes.
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Why Is It So Hard to Buy Carbon Credits?
Navigating the carbon market can be unnecessarily complex and opaque without the right support. Here's why.
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Fierce Whiskers Launches World’s First Carbon-Negative Bourbon
The Austin distillery Fierce Whiskers is releasing 257 carbon-negative bottles of Five O’Clock Shadow from Barrel #47 in a limited release.
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Phlogiston Phase I N2O Abatement
Included in CBCO 22-1, Phlogiston Phase I project was designed to destroy N2O byproducts during the nylon manufacturing process so the GHG is not emitted into the atmosphere. Co-benefits of the project include reduced N2O pollution and GHG emissions into the atmosphere as well as overall improved air and water pollution and ozone recovery.
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Sustainability Reporting White Paper
Sustainability reporting serves as a valuable tool to achieve corporate commitments and better manage climate-related business risks. This white paper walks you through what's typically included and what should be considered.
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What is the Carbon Market? Podcast with Nicole Sullivan
Last month our very own Nicole Sullivan, Director of Climate Services at CarbonBetter, joined Joe Batir of the Energy Transition Solutions podcast for an hour-long conversation about the carbon markets. Listen now or read the highlights.
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Manantiales Behr Wind Farm
Included in CBCO 22-1, the 99-megawatt Manantiales Behr Wind Farm carbon offset project is helping Argentina reach a target of 20% non-hydro renewables by 2025.
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Edition #14 | Environment Forward
Welcome to Edition 14 of Environment Forward. In this edition, we’re looking at podcasts, nature sounds, private jets, and climate legislation.
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Raura Hydro Electric Power Project
The MW Raura Hydro Project provides clean energy to northern India by harnessing renewable electricity from a small, run-of-river hydroelectric power plant, minimizing both the overall environmental impact of the dam and the amount of fossil fuels needed to supply the regional grid.
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Geography Considerations When Buying Carbon Credits
When buying carbon credits, geography matters—here are three key considerations.
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A Primer on Hydroelectric Power
As a renewable, low-carbon source of energy with many co-benefits, hydropower has the potential to be an important part of the energy transition and the carbon offset market. Here are some pros and cons of hydroelectric power.
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Carbon Offset Registries: An Overview
An overview of the role carbon offset registries play in the carbon market, and why they matter.
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Edition #13 | Environment Forward
Welcome to Edition 13 of Environment Forward. In this edition, we’re looking at climate-driven disease, Gmail's carbon footprint, agrivoltaics, and a plastic ban in Canada.
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Important Considerations for Carbon Offset Vintages
Understanding carbon offset vintages is important for choosing the right offsets.
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Sustainability Reports
BeatBox Sustainability Report
Beatbox Beverages is the fastest-selling ready-to-drink cocktail and wine brand in the United States—and they're on the path to becoming the most sustainable, too.
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A Primer on Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)
Is renewable natural gas an ideal alternative fuel for a carbon-neutral future?
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Edition #12 | Environment Forward
Welcome to Edition 12 of Environment Forward. In this edition, we’re looking at renewable energy records, plastic eating worms, regenerative agriculture, and recycling solar panels.
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Plastic Waste Challenges
Plastic use creates a double-edged problem of reliance on fossil fuels and mountains of trash. What's the solution?
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What does it mean to be carbon-free? | Change the Conversation
I champion anyone working to reduce their carbon impacts. But what does it mean to be carbon-free?
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Edition #11 | Environment Forward
Welcome to Edition 11 of Environment Forward. Come explore lab-grown leather, the decline of lichens, blockchain for farmers, and plastic recycling.
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Earth Day Austin 2022 Impacts Report
Our goal for this day of climate action is to show that small steps by many add up to a big positive impact.
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Edition #10 | Environment Forward
Welcome to Edition 10 of Environment Forward. In this edition, we’re looking at everything from toothpaste tubes to pints of Guinness with some TikTok thrown in.
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Meet Nicole, Director of Climate Services
Meet Nicole, CarbonBetter's Climate Services manager. She joined our team to launch our climate practice and she tirelessly and expertly helps companies navigate the complexities of sustainability and decarbonization.
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Edition #9 | Environment Forward
Welcome to Edition 9 of Environment Forward – we’re only a month into 2022 and there has been no shortage of climate news. Here at CarbonBetter, we’re actively preparing to speak at SXSW here in Austin on March 16, 2022, but in the meantime, I’ve been doing a lot of reading.
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Your First Sustainability Report
What's next once you have a plan to do your first sustainability report? The right reporting partner will help you gather data, prioritize calculations, and ensure accuracy.
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Edition #8 | Environment Forward
Welcome to Edition 8 of Environment Forward and the first of 2022! In this edition we look back at extreme weather in 2021, share some EV humor, ponder some thoughtful ESG questions, and explore how to spot greenwashing.
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Edition #7 | Environment Forward
Happiest of holidays to our team, clients, and friends! In this 7th edition of Environment Forward, we explore quick charge batteries, cargo ship kites, hemp concrete, and pop music.
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Edition #6 | Environment Forward
In this 6th Edition of Environment Forward we're exploring both innovations and challenges when it comes to food sustainability.
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Zero Waste vs 1% Better
The challenge of "zero waste" should not stop us from trying. Most people don't realize how powerful aiming for just 1% improvement can be.
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Edition #5 | Environment Forward
Happy Thanksgiving week, friends. Welcome to the 5th Edition of Environment Forward. In this edition, we explore regenerative turkeys, COP26 outcomes, shopping, and trash cleanup.
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Edition #4 | Environment Forward
Welcome to the 4th Edition of Environment Forward. In this edition, we explore what's happening at COP26, missing seafood, reducing our waste, and some good climate news.
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Sustainability Reports
Provision Retail Energy Sustainability Report
Provision helps customers make a positive environmental impact through certified CarbonBetter energy plans that include 100% clean energy and planting trees. Learn more about this innovative business model in this case study.
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Edition #3 | Environment Forward
Welcome to the 3rd Edition of Environment Forward. In this edition, we explore decarbonized Google searches, regenerated fashion, climate tech, and electric vehicle trends.
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Edition #2 | Environment Forward
Welcome to the 2nd Edition of Environment Forward. Here are the things that I've been reading (and watching) over the last couple of weeks that have left me feeling both motivated and inspired.
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Edition #1 | Environment Forward
In this new bi-weekly series called Environment Forward, Climate Services Manager Nicole Sullivan shares her perspective on news she's following in the ever-changing and fast-paced world of sustainability.
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An Old Church Gets a New Life as CarbonBetter HQ
While repurposing an old building was an important start on our path to create a lower impact headquarters, we also made significant efforts to reduce our impact, including salvaged wood desks and using the original foundation.
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Sustainability Reports
OKO Forests Agroforestry Case Study
OKO Forests is located in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. OKO began as a reforestation project, creating a buffer zone adjacent to the Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve (KSNR). The project protects and enhances biodiversity while creating sustainability socioeconomic benefits from nearby communities.
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