The ESG Ratings Chaos:
Why the World Needs a Global Carbon Calculator That Is Free and Incorruptible
Today, sustainable finance is flying blind. ESG rating agencies, which are meant to assess the climate performance of companies, produce inconsistent and opaque results. A foundational MIT study revealed that the correlation between their ratings is only 0.61 (compared to 0.92 for credit ratings). The result is a cacophony that fuels greenwashing and prevents capital from flowing toward real, sustainable solutions.
The solution is not another private rating system, but a global infrastructure of trust: a Global Carbon Calculator that is free and incorruptible.
Like the internet or weather forecasting, it must become a global public good, accessible to all. Funded by a mechanism for the public good, rather than by selling its own ratings, it would be shielded from lobbyist pressure and its impartiality would be guaranteed.
How Would This System Work?
The mechanism is based on three simple steps, combining real-world data with market signals.
Step 1: The "Technical Adjudicator" – Measuring Real Performance
The Global Carbon Calculator establishes a universal climate rating, for example, from AAA (excellent) to DDD (total failure).
Scopes 1 & 2 (direct and indirect emissions under the company's control): → These determine a base multiplier, with an indicative rating from AA to DD. → Example of an indicative scale: * AA = 75% * BB = 45% * DD = 0%
Scope 3 (value chain): → This acts as a modulator, with a rating from A to D, adjusting the score within a flexible range. This scale is indicative to show the model's flexibility; the system's governance could, for instance, define a range from –25% to +25%. → Example: +12%, –18%, etc.
The combination of Scopes 1, 2, and 3 provides a final rating from AAA to DDD.
Step 2: The "Market Barometer" – Valuing Trust
A micro-Financial Transaction Tax (FTT), already implemented in several countries like France, the UK, and India, is reimagined.ée.
Every stock trade generates a micro-contribution.
The sum collected on a company's securities reflects the market's confidence in its climate value.
This contribution is then weighted by the company's rating (AAA to DDD) to produce its Carbon Valuation (€).
Step 3: The Final Score – The Climate Efficiency Index
This Carbon Valuation is divided by the company's real-world emissions:
Efficiency Index = Carbon Valuation (€) / Total Emissions (tCO₂e)
It answers a simple question: “For every ton of CO₂ emitted, how many euros are this company's shareholders generating for global climate action?”
Example
BigCorp, a polluting multinational:
Scopes 1 & 2 = BB → 45%
Scope 3 = C → –15%
Adjusted Score = 45% – 15% = 30% → Final Rating BBC
Gross Contribution = €1M
Adjusted Contribution = €300,000
Emissions = 20,000 tCO₂
Index = 15 €/tCO₂
SmallCo, an exemplary SME:
Scopes 1 & 2 = AA → 75%
Scope 3 = A → +25%
Adjusted Score = 75% + 25% = 100% → Final Rating AAA
Gross Contribution = €100,000
Adjusted Contribution = €100,000
Emissions = 1,000 tCO₂
Index = 100 €/tCO₂
Result: SmallCo is 6.7 times more efficient than BigCorp, regardless of their size.
Why This System Would Be a Game-Changer
Automatic Funding: A global FTT of 0.01–0.05% could generate up to $650 billion/year, closing a major part of the climate finance gap.
Global Standardization: As Europe moves forward with CSRD and the ISSB creates global norms, this calculator would become the universal, free, and impartial standard.
Radical Transparency: Independent verification, blockchain, and artificial intelligence would guarantee data integrity.
Climate Justice: The collected funds would be primarily directed toward the most vulnerable countries and communities.
Integrated Penalty: A company rated DDD could even see its score become negative, triggering a fine.mende.
Conclusion
Today, sustainable finance is a hall of mirrors, where noise and opacity paralyze action. The Global Carbon Calculator offers a clear alternative: a single, universal, and incorruptible standard.
It is not just a measurement tool, but a machine designed to realign finance with climate imperatives.
Just as the IPCC brought an indisputable scientific truth, this calculator could become the financial world's carbon truth. The world does not need another rating, but a common language: from AAA to DDD, a carbon truth shared by all.par tous.