Here Is Everything You Need To Know About Carbon Credit Certifications

How it works?

When you choose to offset your emissions with gn0e, you’re opting for a climate action process meticulously supervised by professional specialists. The credits you purchase originate from reliable, climate-friendly projects situated in developing countries, actively contributing to their sustainable development.

Each project undergoes a rigorous vetting process, engaging various stakeholders. These include project participants who own and implement the projects, host-country national authorities overseeing the process, independent auditors known as Designated Operational Entitiesand in certain projects, the UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board and its secretariat. Operating at a higher echelon, the entire CDM effort is coordinated and guided by the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP). This body, responsible for the Kyoto Protocol’s implementation, involves collective decision-making by all member states.

Certified Emission Reduction

Certified Emission Reduction (CER) is a tradable credit representing one metric tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) that has been removed from the atmosphere through the CDM projects. CDM projects are implemented in developing countries and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while promoting sustainable development.

CERs are issued by the United Nations and are traded on international markets. CERs are a valuable tool for mitigating climate change and play an important role in helping countries meet their emission reduction targets.

Climate Action Reserve

Climate Action Reserve (CAR) is a non-profit organization that develops and manages standards for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction projects. It is one of the leading offset registries in the worldand its standards are widely recognized for their rigor and transparency.

CAR’s mission is to promote and foster the reduction of GHG emissions through credible market-based policies and solutions. It does this by:

• Developing and managing protocols for GHG reduction projects. These protocols establish the rules for how projects can quantify and verify their emission reductions.
• Providing registry services for offset credits. CAR’s registry tracks and records all offset credits that are generated by projects that follow its protocols.
• Conducting research and education on GHG reduction and offsetting. CAR conducts research on a variety of topics related to GHG reduction and offsetting, and it provides educational resources to help stakeholders understand these topics.

CAR’s offset program is voluntary, but it is widely used by companies, governmentsand individuals to offset their emissions. CAR’s offset credits are also used in compliance markets, such as California’s Cap-and-Trade Program.

Here are some of the key benefits of using CAR’s offset program:

• Credibility: CAR’s standards are rigorous and transparent, and its offset credits are considered to be among the highest quality in the world.
• Impact: CAR’s offset credits are only generated from projects that have a real and measurable impact on GHG emissions.
• Transparency: All information about CAR’s offset program is publicly available.
• Flexibility: CAR’s offset program is flexible and can be used to offset a wide range of emission sources.

Verra

Verra is a non-profit organization that develops and manages climate action and sustainable development standards. It is best known for its Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program, which is the world’s leading voluntary carbon offsetting program.

Verra also manages a number of other programs, including:

• The Verified Plastic Reduction (VPR) Program, which sets standards for the quantification, verificationand trading of plastic waste reduction credits.
• The Verified Social Impact (VSI) Program, which sets standards for the quantification, verificationand trading of social impact credits.
• The Verified Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Program, which sets standards for the quantification, verificationand reporting of contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Verra’s programs are used by a wide range of stakeholders, including project developers, emitters, governmentsand investors. They help to ensure that climate action and sustainable development projects are credible, transparentand have a measurable impact.

Here are some of the key benefits of using Verra’s programs:

• Credibility: Verra’s programs are rigorously developed and have a strong track record of ensuring the quality of projects.
• Transparency: Verra’s programs are transparentand all project information is publicly available.
• Impact: Verra’s programs help to ensure that projects have a measurable impact on climate change and sustainable development.

Gold Standard

Gold Standard (GS) is an independent non-profit organization that sets and manages the world’s most rigorous and holistic standards for climate and development projects. Their mission is to enable climate and development action to deliver the greatest possible impact on climate change mitigation, sustainable developmentand community well-being.

Gold Standard’s standards are based on the principles of:

• Rigor: Their standards are developed through a rigorous and transparent process that involves experts from around the world.
• Effectiveness: Their standards are designed to ensure that projects deliver real and measurable impact on climate change and sustainable development.
• Holisticity: Their standards consider the social, economic, and environmental impacts of projects.
• Community: Their standards emphasize the importance of community engagement and participation.

Gold Standard’s standards are used by a wide range of stakeholders, including project developers, emitters, governmentsand investors. They help to ensure that climate and development projects are credible, transparentand have a measurable impact.

Here are some of the key benefits of using Gold Standard’s standards:

• Credibility: Gold Standard’s standards are the most rigorous and respected in the world.
• Impact: Gold Standard-certified projects have been shown to deliver real and measurable impact on climate change and sustainable development.
• Community: Gold Standard-certified projects are designed to benefit local communities.
• Transparency: All Gold Standard-certified projects are subject to rigorous monitoring and reporting requirements.

American Carbon Registry

American Carbon Registry (ACR) is a non-profit organization that operates a private voluntary carbon offset program. It is one of the oldest and most respected carbon offset programs in the worldand it has a strong track record of ensuring the quality of its offset credits.

ACR’s mission is to promote and facilitate the development and use of high-quality carbon offsets to mitigate climate change. It does this by:

• Developing and managing standards for carbon offset projects. ACR’s standards are based on the principles of rigor, transparency, and effectiveness.
• Providing registry services for offset credits. ACR’s registry tracks and records all offset credits that are generated by projects that follow its standards.
• Conducting research and education on carbon offsets. ACR conducts research on a variety of topics related to carbon offsets, and it provides educational resources to help stakeholders understand these topics.

ACR’s offset program is voluntary, but it is widely used by companies, governmentsand individuals to offset their emissions. ACR’s offset credits are also used in compliance markets, such as California’s Cap-and-Trade Program.

Here are some of the key benefits of using ACR’s offset program:

• Credibility: ACR’s standards are rigorous and transparent, and its offset credits are considered to be among the highest quality in the world.
• Impact: ACR’s offset credits are only generated from projects that have a real and measurable impact on GHG emissions.
• Transparency: All information about ACR’s offset program is publicly available.
• Flexibility: ACR’s offset program is flexible and can be used to offset a wide range of emission sources.

Certified B Corporation

Certified B Corporation, or B Corp, is a type of for-profit business that meets rigorous social and environmental performance standards, accountabilityand transparency. B Corps is certified by the nonprofit organization B Lab, which evaluates companies based on their impact on workers, customers, communitiesand the environment.

To become a Certified B Corporation, a company must undergo a comprehensive assessment that covers various aspects of its business practices. This assessment evaluates factors such as:

1. Governance: The structure and accountability of the company’s leadership, including its mission and commitment to stakeholders.
2. Workers: The treatment of employees, including workplace policies, benefitsand overall corporate culture.
3. Community: The company’s relationships with the local community and the broader societal impact of its operations.
4. Environment: The environmental practices and sustainability efforts of the company.

The B Corp certification process is designed to ensure that companies balance profit and purpose, considering their impact on society and the planet. Companies that achieve B Corp certification are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions not only on shareholders but also on other stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliersand the community.

Being a Certified B Corporation is seen as a way for businesses to demonstrate their commitment to social and environmental responsibility. It provides a recognizable standard for consumers and investors who want to support companies that prioritize both profit and purpose. B Corps are part of a global movement to redefine success in business by promoting a more inclusive and sustainable form of capitalism.