In the voluntary market, a carbon credit represents one tonne of CO₂ equivalent reduced, avoided or removed through a project under the applicable scheme’s rules. The process connects a methodology, monitoring, independent verification and issuance in a registry. Buying, transferring and retiring credits are different operations: holding a credit does not mean it has been used.
What is a carbon credit?
A carbon credit is a unit linked to a quantified climate outcome: one tonne of CO₂ equivalent, a common basis for expressing the impact of different greenhouse gases. Gold Standard’s definition links the unit to emissions reduced, avoided or removed through a certified project.
Reducing or avoiding emissions involves a comparison with a baseline scenario; removal involves taking CO₂ out of the atmosphere and storing it. When reviewing a proposal, ask what outcome is measured, over which period and using which methodology. The number of trees or size of a plot alone does not tell you how many credits have been generated.
How do credits work, from project to retirement?
- The project defines what it will measure. Its activities, boundaries, baseline and methodology need to be identifiable.
- Monitoring gathers evidence. Data and calculations document the period’s outcomes; forecasts must be distinguished from verified results.
- Independent verification assesses the evidence. Read the conclusion alongside its scope, reporting period and any limitations.
- Issuance creates identifiable units in the registry. At Carbonetica, each issued credit represents one whole tonne and receives a unique serial number.
- Transfer and retirement document the next steps. A transfer changes the holder; retirement records use and makes the unit no longer transferable within the registry.
The distinction between issuance, holding, transfer and retirement is also explained in Gold Standard’s Impact Registry. For Carbonetica’s specific process, see How it works and the registry rules.
What helps you assess a credit?
The VCS quality assurance principles include measurability, additionality, conservative estimates, independent verification and traceability. Additionality concerns the benefit beyond what would have happened without the project; for removals, storage duration and the risk of releasing carbon again also matter.
Turn these concepts into practical questions: does the document explain the baseline comparison? Does it identify the calculation method and the body that verified the results? Does the reporting period match the proposed units? An incomplete answer is a reason to request clarification before making a decision.
What is different about Italian carbon credits?
Italian origin identifies where the project is located. Assessing it still requires reviewing the scheme, activities and documents. On Carbonetica, start with the project pages and compare the published information with the proposal you have received.
The private registry tracks units under its own rules. A listing does not constitute public recognition or, on its own, prove the absence of duplicates outside the platform. For checks before agreeing a transfer, read where to buy carbon credits.
Frequently asked questions about carbon credits
Is a carbon credit an EU ETS allowance?
No. EU ETS allowances belong to the regulated European system and are managed through the Union Registry. Carbonetica’s voluntary units are not these allowances.
Does buying a credit mean it has been retired?
No. Check that the requested operation is actually retirement and that serial numbers, quantity and beneficiary are documented. An inquiry does not perform that operation.
Does retirement automatically make a company carbon neutral?
No. A retirement certificate documents the operation on the units. Claims about the company require a separate assessment of emissions, boundaries, reductions and communication.
Where to start with Carbonetica Registry
Choose a project, note your questions about its documents and request information from Carbonetica. Identify the project and your objective: understanding the evidence, considering a transfer or exploring retirement. The form does not automatically purchase or reserve credits.