Project quality
The design, data and governance behind a project determine whether its credits mean anything.
Carbon Credits
Carbon Credits With Transparency at the Core
Carbon credits are one component of a broader climate strategy, alongside measurement and emissions reduction. They address residual emissions; they do not replace reduction.
The fundamentals
What determines whether a credit is credible
These concepts define carbon-market quality. TerraCO applies them to its own pipeline and expects buyers to ask about each one.
Additionality
Reductions or removals must go beyond what would have happened anyway.
Permanence
Carbon stored must stay stored, with risks of reversal identified and managed.
Leakage
Emissions displaced outside the project boundary must be accounted for, not ignored.
MRV
Measurement, reporting and verification turn project claims into evidence.
Validation & verification
Independent bodies assess project design and, later, actual performance.
Registries
Registries record issuance, ownership, transfer and retirement of credits.
Issuance
Credits exist only once a registry issues them against verified performance.
Retirement
Retirement permanently removes a credit from circulation against a specific claim.
Traceability
A credit should be traceable from project and vintage through to retirement.
TerraCO's position
What TerraCO does and does not offer today
Today
- Educational explanation of carbon-market standards and registries.
- Identified project pipeline reported by explicit status.
- Requests for quotes, allocations and future-supply discussions.
Not offered
- Sale of credits from any registry or standards programme.
- Online purchase, checkout or payment for credits.
- Certificates, serial numbers or retirements.
TerraCO does not currently sell credits from Verra, Gold Standard, ACR, CSA CleanProjects or any other registry. Registries and standards are described here for educational purposes only and do not imply affiliation, accreditation or inventory.