Carbon Credit Standards and Registries
Carbon credit standards, crediting programs and registries perform related but different functions. This guide explains those roles and how buyers should use program and registry information when comparing credits.Carbon credit standards and registries that you new to know
What this page helps you do
Carbon credit standards and registries: compare the roles of carbon-crediting programs, registries and marketplaces and learn how to verify registry-tracked.
Program, Registry and Marketplace Roles
Crediting program
Defines rules, approves methodologies, oversees validation and verification requirements and determines whether eligible units may be issued.
Registry
Provides the ledger that records projects, serialized units, holdings, transfers, cancellations and retirements.
Marketplace
Supports discovery, price comparison and transactions. It must not imply that it is the issuing program or independent verifier.
Programs Represented on the Marketplace
Verra Verified Carbon Standard
Listings should link to the relevant VCS project and Verra Registry information and identify the methodology and vintage.
Gold Standard
Listings should link to the project and Gold Standard Impact Registry information, including applicable labels and certified impacts.
Other programs
ACR, Climate Action Reserve or other programs should only receive dedicated pages when actual inventory and current program information are available.
How to Compare Registry-Tracked Credits
Check the project
Confirm project ID, location, activity type and public documentation.
Check the units
Confirm vintage, issuance, serial range or allocation method, quantity and lifecycle status.
Check quality separately
Review methodology-specific additionality, quantification, permanence, leakage and safeguard information; do not rely on the registry name alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a carbon-crediting program the same as a registry?
Not exactly. A program defines requirements and approves eligible issuance; a registry records projects, serialized units and lifecycle transactions. One organization may operate both functions.
Does a registry set the marketplace price?
Usually the commercial price is agreed through a marketplace, seller or bilateral transaction. Registry and program fees are different from the market value of a credit.
Why must I check the methodology?
Credits issued under the same program can use different methodologies with different baselines, monitoring rules, durability and risk controls.
Continue Your Research
Related pages
Use these related guides to verify the evidence before taking action.