The Core Carbon Principles Assessment Framework

Click here to read more about the Assessment Framework

Meet the Integrity Council

Hear about our mission, mandate, and work plan

A high-integrity voluntary carbon market is a key complementary tool to reduce and remove emissions above and beyond what would otherwise be possible and to channel finance towards climate resilient development.

Who We Are

The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (Integrity Council) is an independent governance body for the voluntary carbon market.

What We Do

We will set and enforce a definitive global threshold, drawing on the best science and expertise available, so high-quality carbon credits efficiently mobilize finance towards urgent mitigation and climate resilient development.

Our Theory of Change

Our theory of change is simple: build integrity and scale will follow.

The Core Carbon Principles

The Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) and Assessment Framework (AF) will set new threshold standards for high-quality carbon credits, provide guidance on how to apply the CCPs, and define which carbon-crediting programs and methodology types are CCP-eligible.

Announcements

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Any further delay in concerted global action will miss the brief, rapidly closing window to secure a livable future.

   Hans-Otto Pörtner

IPCC Working Group II
Co-Chair

The world urgently needs a high-integrity voluntary carbon market

Every ton of greenhouse gas emissions in our atmosphere contributes to global warming and every increment of global warming means the impacts of climate change get larger in frequency and intensity. To avoid the worst impacts from climate change, we urgently need to stabilize GHG concentrations in the atmosphere.

A high-integrity voluntary carbon market is an important complementary tool to reduce and remove emissions above and beyond what would otherwise be possible and to channel finance towards climate resilient development.

A high-integrity voluntary carbon market would be CLEAN

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N

Catalytic: mobilizing finance towards mitigation, especially into developing countries, accelerating innovation and market uptake of emerging breakthrough technologies

Local: creating jobs and prosperity in local communities, delivering sustainable development of co-benefits, protecting and enhancing the livelihoods of marginalized groups, including indigenous peoples.

 

Empowering: accelerating implementation of NDCs and Net-Zero commitments, paving the way for increased ambition, helping state and non-state actors go above and beyond.

Additional: channeling finance that would otherwise not be available into GHG removals and reductions that would otherwise not happen.

 

Nature-positive: protecting ecosystems, particularly forests and natural habitats, promoting nature-based climate solutions.

 

Catalytic: mobilizing finance towards mitigation, especially into developing and emerging countries, and accelerating market uptake of emerging breakthrough technologies.

Local: creating jobs and prosperity in local communities, delivering sustainable development of co-benefits, protecting and enhancing the livelihoods of marginalized groups, including indigenous peoples.

Empowering: accelerating implementation of NDCs and Net-Zero commitments, paving the way for increased ambition, helping state and non-state actors go above and beyond.

Additional: channeling finance that would otherwise not be available into GHG removals and reductions that would otherwise not happen.

Nature-positive: protecting ecosystems, particularly forests and natural habitats, promoting nature-based climate solutions.

The Core Carbon Principles

Find out more about our Core Carbon Principles and Assessment Framework, which will set new threshold standards for high-quality carbon credits, provide guidance on how to apply the CCPs, and define which carbon-crediting programs and methodology types are CCP-eligible.

Meet the Team

Our team encompasses diverse and world-leading expertise across many forms of knowledge, including climate science and academia, sustainable finance, carbon market methodologies, eNGOs, UNFCCC process expertise, policy and regulation, the corporate sector, Indigenous Peoples and local communities

Our Governance Documents

Explore the Integrity Council’s Charter and Principles that guide our work to achieve a high-integrity voluntary carbon market.

Our Funders

Bezos Earth Fund
Bloomberg Philanthropics
Children's Investment Fund Foundation
Grantham Foundation
Google
High Tide Foundation
Sequoia Climate Foundation

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