Project principles
ClimateCare's aim is to reduce levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. We do this by funding projects that make emissions reductions. Our projects can also bring a wide range of other benefits to local communities, such as poverty alleviation, health benefits and increased biodiversity.
There are various checks and balances we put in place so that you can be assured that we are doing what we claim and that our projects are achieving their objectives.
New reductions ('additionality')
We will only fund a project if we can be confident that it would not have gone ahead without our assistance. This means that all the emissions reductions that you pay for go over and above what would have happened without our intervention. The case for additionality is often easier to prove in developing countries that do not have sophisticated climate change policies in place and are constrained by lack of access to capital.
Avoiding 'double counting'
All countries that have signed up and ratified the Kyoto Protocol have legally binding targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. For example, in the UK the government has already committed to making cuts in greenhouse gases by 12.5% on 1990 levels, with an aspirational goal of 20%. Although we are pleased that these commitments have been made, we do not feel that it is our job to help governments reach their legally binding targets. We believe that our customers want their money to fund CO2 reductions that go over and above those that governments are already required to make. That is why we do our projects outside countries that have legally binding commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.
Real reductions ('verification')
It is very important that our projects make the emission reductions we claim. For each project we engage an independent third party to write a report for us at the beginning of the project. This sets out what the emissions were before the project ('the baseline') and what the emissions are with the project. One minus the other gives the expected annual emission reductions. The report also covers issues such as additionality.
We then commission ongoing monitoring of the project, to ensure that the expected emission reductions are being made.
A basket of projects (our 'portfolio approach')
ClimateCare runs a portfolio of projects to offset your emissions. When you offset your emissions you are doing so through the portfolio, rather than in any one particular project.
This portfolio approach allows us to provide funding up front for the projects - a key element of community-based sustainable energy and a good way of ensuring 'additionality'. It also allows us to account for the elements of uncertainty that come with funding new reductions - what businesses describe as risk management.
Most of ClimateCare's projects are in our General Portfolio, which is the source of carbon offsets sold online and to most of our business partners. For some organisations buying very high volumes of carbon, ClimateCare sources some or all of their offsets from specific projects, in what we call our Client Specific Portfolio. See our projects world map for an overview of projects in each portfolio.
Sustainable Energy, Energy Efficiency or Forest Restoration?
Our offsets are currently sourced from energy efficiency or sustainable energy projects.
We believe that planting trees cannot be seen as a solution to climate change when taken in isolation. Nevertheless, approximately 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions each year come from deforestation and forest fires.
Historically ClimateCare has funded a rainforest restoration project based in Uganda's Kibale National Park. This is a high-quality reforestation project that restores and protects the indigenous ecosystem. For a more detailed explanation of this project see the Rainforest Restoration page.
Voluntary offset standards
ClimateCare believes that rigorous standards for the voluntary carbon market are essential. We have contributed to the development of the Voluntary Carbon Standard as well as the Gold Standard Voluntary scheme, as a basis for ensuring carbon reduction projects with strong sustainable development benefits. All of our projects are accredited with one of the available market standards.