Understanding Our Carbon Standard

The Decarb.earth Project Acceptance Standard establishes criteria for projects seeking acceptance on the Decarb.earth Digital Measurement, Reporting and Verification (dMRV) platform and eligibility for carbon credits. The framework addresses shortcomings in the current carbon credit market by emphasizing immediate and sustainable emissions reduction and addressing environmental, financial, and socio-economic considerations.

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Introduction: The Path to Impact

The Decarb.earth initiative aims to redefine carbon credit standards by prioritizing projects with immediate and lasting emissions reduction impact. Keenly aware of the limitations of existing practices for delayed impact and potential environmental harm, Decarb.earth seeks to create a transparent market that aligns carbon credits with genuine, tangible efforts to combat climate change.

Barriers to Carbon Credits and Impact

Decarb.earth identifies historical barriers, including cost and technology constraints, limiting the impact of carbon credits. It aims to remove these barriers, especially for small and medium-sized renewable energy (RE) projects, to ensure wider accessibility and effectiveness. The lack of advanced Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) technology is identified as a hindrance to transparency in assessing project authenticity.

Importance of Monitoring and Verification in Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a system that allows developed countries to invest in emission reduction projects in developing nations to meet their own climate targets while supporting sustainable development. The framework underscores the critical role of accurate MRV in determining eligibility for carbon credits, ensuring the credibility of emissions reductions claimed by projects. Decarb&apoos;s technology plays a crucial role in overcoming the technological barrier of the CDM by providing the necessary tools for precise monitoring and reporting of electricity generation and consumption in supported projects.

Technological Challenges for Small and Medium-sized RE Projects

Small and medium-sized RE projects face hurdles due to initial investment barriers, lack of technical expertise, and absence of tailored monitoring solutions. These challenges lead to lost opportunities, hindering the financial viability of projects and undermining the growth of decentralized renewable energy.

Solutions to Technological Barriers

Decarb.earth proposes solutions to overcome technological barriers, including simplified monitoring protocols, financial support for MRV tools, and capacity-building initiatives. By addressing these challenges, Decarb.earth aims to promote equity, inclusiveness, and the potential of decentralized renewable energy.

Impact Criteria for Renewable Energy Projects

Decarb.earth establishes five impact criteria for RE projects, emphasizing highly efficient installations, avoidance of dirty grids, protection of natural habitats, business sustainability impact, and socio-economic benefits. Projects meeting these criteria contribute to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and are eligible for carbon credits on the Decarb.earth dMRV platform. Projects under 15MW are accepted under this standard.

Additionality

Projects must demonstrate that emissions reductions are additional to the status quo or future projections, emphasizing the necessity of avoiding double counting and ensuring genuine carbon offset contributions.

Decarb.earth dMRV Platform-Provided Actions for Carbon Credits

The framework outlines the processes for project implementation, monitoring, carbon credit methodology selection, calculation, issuance, validation, and verification.

Auditing and Verification (AV) Principles

Decarb.earth AV principles ensure the existence, accuracy, availability, additional impact, immediacy, and consistency of methodologies. Independent verification by Mazars, along with continuous auditing, aims to maintain trust and integrity in the carbon credit market.

Applicable UNFCCC CDM Methodologies

The framework aligns with UNFCCC CDM methodologies, amending specific project acceptance factors while emphasizing sustainability, additionality, and stakeholder consultation. The integration of AMS-I.A, AMS-I.D, AMS-I.F, ACM0002, and ACM0006 standards underscores the commitment to international best practices in carbon credit evaluation and issuance.

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Earth Standard