What are the Integrity Council’s Core Carbon Principles and Assessment Framework?

The 10 Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) establish an independent global standard for high integrity in the voluntary carbon market. The Integrity Council uses the rules set out in its Assessment Framework to assess independent carbon-crediting programs and their methodologies for adherence to the CCPs. These have been developed through a multi-stakeholder process with representatives from civil society, markets, governments and other standards bodies both from the global north and south.

The CCPs and Assessment Framework build on and align with discussions under Article 6. The Integrity Council continues to closely follow this to work to ensure that the whole market (whether international under Article 6, or independent under the Integrity Council) is transparent and aligned to high integrity principles.

Independent carbon-crediting programs found to be ‘CCP-Eligible’ can tag carbon credits with the CCP label if they are generated by projects using ‘CCP-Approved’ methodologies. After approving programs and the methodologies they use, the Integrity Council provides assurance that they continue to comply with the CCP criteria. This is done through spot checks and periodic reviews of programs, reviewing public reports, analysing market data and examining any allegations relating to the conduct of CCP-eligible programs.

From the very start of the Integrity Council, we have taken steps to closely align with the UN processes. Former UNFCCC negotiators and world-renowned Article 6 experts are on our governing board and our independent expert panel and were closely involved in the development of the CCPs and Assessment Framework. We are committed to aligning with or exceeding Article 6 guidance, the development of which our expert teams are following closely. In addition, we have made publicly available submissions to the Article 6.4 body on how the CCPs and Assessment Framework align with Article 6 guidance.