How to Tell If a Carbon Credit Is High Quality: A Buyer’s Checklist

The voluntary carbon market has faced intense media and scientific scrutiny, and buyers are rightly asking harder questions. A carbon credit is only valuable if it represents a real, measurable and lasting tonne of CO₂ reduced or removed. Whether you are buying for the first time or reviewing your portfolio, this checklist will help you identify a genuine high quality carbon credits supplier.

The quality checklist

1. Recognised standard. Is the credit certified by a trusted standard such as Verra’s VCS? Check that the project is listed and the credits are issued on a public registry.

2. Integrity labels. The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) has set Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) and assesses methodologies against them. Credits carrying a CCP label offer additional assurance.

3. Additionality. Would the project have happened without carbon finance? Look for a clear explanation of why carbon revenue is essential.

4. Conservative baseline. Is the baseline scenario realistic and based on robust data? Updated methodologies for forest projects use more standardised baselines.

5. Permanence. How long will the carbon stay stored, and what happens if it is lost? Look for buffer pool contributions and long crediting periods.

6. Leakage. Does the project account for emissions moving elsewhere?

7. Independent verification. Has an accredited third party audited the emission reductions?

8. Community and land rights. Was free, prior and informed consent obtained? Is there a fair benefit-sharing arrangement?

9. Co-benefits. Are biodiversity and social outcomes measured and verified, for example through the CCB Standards?

10. Vintage and transparency. Recent vintages and full disclosure of project documents are good signs.

Questions to ask your supplier

Can you show me the project documents and registry entries? Who are the project owners and how do they benefit? Will the credits be retired in my company’s name? What monitoring is in place today?

The value of buying from the source

Suppliers that develop their own projects can answer these questions in detail, because they know the project from the ground up. Asia Pacific Carbon develops projects directly with landowners across Asia and the Pacific. Learn about our high-quality, nature-based credits.