Verified carbon credits, also known as certified carbon credits or certified emission reductions (CERs), are carbon offsets that have undergone a rigorous verification process to ensure their credibility and compliance with recognized standards. Verification is typically conducted by independent third-party auditors or verifiers who assess the emission reduction or removal project associated with the credits. Here are some key points about verified carbon credits:

1. Certification Standards: Verified carbon credits are certified according to established standards and methodologies. These standards set criteria for project assessment, monitoring, reporting, and verification to ensure that emission reductions are accurately measured and validated. Examples of widely recognized standards include the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), Gold Standard, and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
2. Project Verification: The verification process involves a comprehensive review and audit of the emission reduction project. Independent verifiers assess project documentation, conduct on-site visits, and verify the accuracy and reliability of reported emission reductions. They evaluate whether the project meets the specific requirements and criteria of the chosen certification standard.
3. Monitoring and Reporting: Verified carbon credits require robust monitoring systems to track and report emissions reductions over time. Projects must collect accurate and verifiable data to demonstrate the actual emission reductions achieved. The verification process assesses the project’s monitoring practices and verifies that the reported emission reductions are consistent with the standard’s guidelines.
4. Additionality and Baseline Setting: Verified carbon credits must demonstrate additionality, meaning that the emission reductions or removals go beyond business-as-usual scenarios. The baseline is the estimated level of emissions that would have occurred without the project. Verifiers evaluate the project’s additionality assessment and ensure that the project’s emissions reductions are additional to what would have happened in the absence of the project.
5. Credibility and Transparency: Verified carbon credits offer credibility and transparency to buyers. They provide assurance that the emission reductions or removals associated with the credits have been independently verified and meet the standards’ requirements. Verification enhances the credibility of the carbon credit market and ensures the integrity of the credits being traded.
6. Registry and Issuance: Once the verification process is complete, the verified carbon credits are issued and recorded in a registry. Registries serve as a transparent and auditable platform for tracking the ownership, transaction history, and retirement of carbon credits. This helps prevent double-counting and ensures the accurate accounting of emissions reductions.
7. Market Acceptance: Verified carbon credits are widely recognized and accepted in the carbon market. Buyers, including businesses, governments, and individuals, often prefer to purchase verified credits to ensure the environmental integrity and real impact of their offsetting efforts.

By choosing verified carbon credits, buyers can have confidence that the emission reductions or removals associated with the credits have been independently verified and meet recognized standards. This helps support credible and effective climate action initiatives.