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Verra Registry
Market Integrity

Integrity & Claims

Responsible claims guidance, credit type distinctions, and registry standards. Designed to support defensible, accurate public statements about your carbon credit procurement.

Claims guidance

Responsible use-of-proceeds claims.

This guidance is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. Buyers should consult qualified legal counsel before making public claims.

Supported Claims
  • "We have retired X tCO₂e of voluntary carbon credits from [Project Name], [Registry], vintage [year]."
  • "Our carbon credit retirement is documented on the [Registry] registry under serial numbers [range]."
  • "We have purchased and retired credits verified under [Methodology] by [VVB]."
  • "Our carbon credit procurement follows [GHG Protocol / CDP] reporting guidelines."
Claims Requiring Caution
  • "Carbon neutral" — requires comprehensive scope definition and third-party verification.
  • "Net zero" — requires alignment with recognized standards (SBTi, ISO 14068) and deep decarbonization.
  • "Carbon offset" — acceptable with precise scope definition; avoid implying full neutralization.
  • "Climate positive" — requires quantified net negative position with verified methodology.
Claims to Avoid
  • Absolute environmental impact claims without supporting data and third-party verification.
  • Regulatory compliance claims — carbon credits do not substitute for regulatory obligations.
  • Claims implying equivalence to direct emission reductions without qualification.
  • Unqualified "green" or "sustainable" claims based solely on carbon credit purchases.
Credit classification

Avoidance vs. removal — what's the difference?

Emission Reduction

Avoidance Credits

Avoidance credits represent emissions that were prevented from occurring — for example, protecting a forest that would otherwise have been deforested, or replacing a high-emission cooking method with a cleaner alternative.

Characteristics
  • Typically lower cost per tCO₂e than removal credits
  • Established methodologies with long track records
  • Suitable for near-term procurement programs
  • Co-benefits often include biodiversity and community development
Examples
REDD+ forest protectionCookstove distributionMethane captureRenewable energy displacement
Claims note: Avoidance credits support claims of "emission reduction" or "carbon credit retirement." They do not support claims of "carbon removal" or "carbon dioxide removal (CDR)."
Carbon Dioxide Removal

Removal Credits

Removal credits represent CO₂ that has been physically removed from the atmosphere and stored — for example, through reforestation, soil carbon sequestration, or direct air capture.

Characteristics
  • Increasingly preferred for net zero alignment
  • Higher cost per tCO₂e, especially for engineered removal
  • Permanence considerations vary by project type
  • Required by some net zero frameworks for residual emissions
Examples
Afforestation / reforestation (ARR)Improved forest managementBiochar soil carbonDirect air capture (DAC)
Claims note: Removal credits support claims of "carbon removal" or "carbon dioxide removal." They are preferred for net zero claims under SBTi and other standards.
Registry standards

Buyer-safe registry labeling conventions.

Verra VCS

Verified Carbon Standard

The world's largest voluntary carbon market standard. VCS projects are verified by accredited third-party auditors and listed on the Verra registry.

Common Methodologies
VM0015 (REDD+)VM0009 (IFM)VM0047 (ARR)VM0033 (Blue Carbon)VM0044 (Biochar)

Gold Standard

Gold Standard Foundation

Established by WWF and other NGOs. Gold Standard projects must demonstrate sustainable development co-benefits in addition to emission reductions.

Common Methodologies
AMS-II.G (Cookstoves)AMS-I.J (Solar)GS4GG (Land use)

ACR

American Carbon Registry

A leading carbon offset registry in North America. ACR projects undergo rigorous third-party verification and are listed on the ACR registry.

Common Methodologies
ACR IFMACR CMM (Coal Mine Methane)ACR Avoided Conversion

CAR

Climate Action Reserve

A North American carbon offset registry focused on high-quality, transparent, and consistent offset projects.

Common Methodologies
CAR IFMCAR LFG (Landfill Gas)CAR Livestock

Legal & Compliance Disclaimer

The information on this page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or regulatory advice. Carbon credit claims and their regulatory implications vary by jurisdiction, industry, and applicable standards. CarbonClearingHouse does not make environmental or regulatory claims on behalf of buyers. All public claims related to carbon credit purchases should be reviewed by qualified legal counsel before publication. Allocation subject to availability. Not financial advice.

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