The Planet Brief is an independent sustainability publication founded by Kieran Simpson. Our mission is to make carbon markets, ESG (environmental, social and governance) reporting, climate policy, net zero and sustainable investing easier to understand through evidence-based reporting and practical explainers.
Sustainability is now part of business strategy, investment research, procurement, regulation and everyday consumer decisions. The problem is that much of the available information is either too technical, too promotional, too shallow, or written for specialists who already know the language.
The Planet Brief exists to close that gap. We explain complex climate and sustainability topics in plain English, while still respecting the detail. Our goal is to help readers understand what a rule, market, company decision or investment claim actually means, what evidence supports it, and where the uncertainty remains.
What we cover
The publication focuses on areas where sustainability decisions have practical consequences for businesses, investors, policymakers and readers who want to understand the transition without hype.
- Carbon markets: carbon credits, voluntary carbon markets, CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation), Article 6, verification standards, credit quality and carbon pricing.
- Climate policy: the Paris Agreement, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change processes, COP (Conference of the Parties) summits, emissions trading, CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) and national climate rules.
- ESG and reporting: CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures), SDR (Sustainability Disclosure Requirements), greenwashing, reporting evidence and disclosure quality.
- Net zero: business carbon footprints, Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, supplier evidence, carbon reduction plans and the difference between targets, transition plans and delivery.
- Sustainable investing: green bonds, sustainable funds, pensions, ETFs (exchange-traded funds), ISAs (individual savings accounts), stewardship, climate risk and investment-label claims.
- Sustainable living and technology: practical guides to lower-waste products, repair, refurbished technology, home energy and consumer choices where evidence matters.
How we explain topics
The Planet Brief is designed to be useful rather than loud. We prefer source-backed explanations, careful comparisons, practical checklists and honest interpretation over hot takes. If a topic is uncertain, contested or still developing, we say so.
We prioritise primary sources wherever possible: regulator publications, official policy documents, standards bodies, company reports, market data, fund factsheets, disclosure documents and recognised research. When we use secondary reporting, we aim to make the source and context clear.
We also try to separate explanation from interpretation. Explanation tells the reader what a rule or market mechanism does. Interpretation explains why it matters, who is affected and what a careful reader should check next. The best Planet Brief articles should do both.
About Kieran Simpson
The Planet Brief is founded and edited by Kieran Simpson, who has spent more than a decade working across carbon markets, sustainability data and digital systems for climate-related workflows.
Kieran's background combines technical IT, carbon project operations and market analysis. His work has included digitising workflows for carbon project development in Africa and Latin America, managing carbon project data, building practical systems for project evidence and reporting, and analysing carbon market trends, standards and buyer expectations.
That mix of technical and market experience shapes The Planet Brief. The site is not written from the outside looking in. It is built around the practical questions that come up when climate policy, carbon project data, ESG reporting, sustainable finance and operational delivery meet in the real world.
Independence and related projects
The Planet Brief is independently published by Kieran Simpson. It sits alongside related sustainability projects including The Carbon Workbench, a suite of carbon calculators and tools, and Prospereco, a sustainable clothing project.
Those relationships are disclosed because they matter. Where an article references a related tool, product or project, the reference should still serve the reader. We do not want The Planet Brief to become a disguised sales page. Commercial relationships, affiliate links and related-party references are covered in our disclosure policy.
Who the site is for
The Planet Brief is written for founders, operators, consultants, sustainability teams, investors, procurement teams, students, journalists and curious readers who need clear sustainability context. Some articles are introductory. Others are deeper authority pieces designed to explain institutions, rules and markets in detail.
Financial articles are informational only. They are not investment advice, personal recommendations or financial promotions. Regulatory and compliance articles are educational only and do not replace legal, accounting, tax or professional advice.
Editorial standards
Every article should aim to be accurate, readable and useful. We maintain separate pages for our editorial policy, corrections policy, disclosures, privacy policy and terms of service.
If you spot an error, missing context, an outdated figure or a claim that should be better sourced, please contact us. Sustainability rules and market data change quickly, so corrections and updates are part of the work.
Support The Planet Brief
The Planet Brief is independently published by Kieran Simpson. If you find the site useful, you can support the work with a small one-off contribution through Ko-fi. Contributions help cover hosting, research tools and the time needed to keep producing clear, practical, source-backed sustainability briefings.
Contact
For editorial enquiries, corrections, reader feedback, source suggestions, partnerships and commercial questions, email hello@theplanetbrief.com or visit the contact page.