We have been striving to decrease the concentration of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. Primary among some of the gases that cause the greenhouse effect is carbon dioxide (CO₂), used as a standard measure for carbon credits. Therefore, one ton of CO₂ not emitted or removed from the atmosphere is equivalent to one carbon credit.
To obtain a certified carbon credit, it is necessary to develop a Carbon Credit Project. This project must follow a specific methodology and must respect the eligibility criteria. The main criteria are:
Main Standards and Certifiers
UNFCCC - Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): The Clean Development Mechanism was the first global environmental crediting and investment scheme of its kind, developed by the UNFCCC under the Kyoto Protocol (1997). Through the Paris Agreement (2015), the CDM will be discontinued and replaced by the Sustainable Development Mechanism established in Glasgow at COP26 (2021). The operationalization of this new mechanism will be further defined and put in place in the coming years.
Verra – Verified Carbon Standard (VCS): Verra is an institution created in 2005, recognized worldwide as a specialist in certifying carbon credit projects. It establishes methodologies that evidence the battle for climate change through the removal of carbon dioxide or reduction of GHG emissions, as well as providing additional requirements that lead to complementary benefits to the environment and society. The VCS methodology is one of the most widely used worldwide and was developed by the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) Climate Group, the World Economic Forum (WEF), and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
Gold Standard: Established in 2003 by WWF and other international NGOs to ensure that projects that reduce carbon emissions under the UN Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) also contribute to sustainable development.
Social Carbon: Developed by Instituto Ecológica, a Brazilian non-profit entity, it certifies carbon reduction projects for their contributions to sustainable development.