Assessment
How projects are assessed
Real projects only
A project should actually do what it promises. Not just sound good on paper. That means checking what really happens, who verifies it and whether the impact can be proven before buying a single tonne.
Permanence: the longer, the better
Stored carbon should stay stored. Preferably for centuries, and ideally forever. The longer and more secure the storage, the stronger the project.
Strong additionality
A project should only count as additional when carbon finance made it possible. Otherwise, money is being paid for something that would probably have happened anyway.
Why vintage and registry matter
Vintage shows when the carbon was removed or stored. A public registry makes every tonne traceable, gives it a unique record and helps prevent the same tonne from being sold or claimed twice.
Why retirement matters
A credit only counts once it has been retired in the registry. Retirement permanently removes it from circulation, which means it can never be sold, traded or claimed again.