This is how you recognize reputable CO2 certificates

The climate crisis is becoming more and more noticeable. In order to limit their effects, it is necessary to drastically reduce CO2 emissions in the coming years. Buying and selling reputable Gold Standard CO2 certificates can be a step in the right direction. We explain to you what’s behind it.

It’s getting hotter, drier and more unpredictable: the fact that climate change is happening can now be clearly felt almost everywhere. To limit its effects, we must reduce global CO2 emissions in the coming years.

Among other things, emissions from the energy sector and agriculture, various industrial processes and the transport sector have a negative impact on the climate. The federal government has also therefore determined by lawthat Germany should become greenhouse gas neutral by 2045.

Compensation through CO2 certificates as a measure against climate change

Although there are always new projects and ideas against emissions, the possibilities are currently limited in many areas. In these cases, the concept of CO2 compensation comes into play.

What is CO2 compensation?

The idea behind it is that a certain amount of CO2, which was emitted, for example, by an intercontinental flight, is offset with a corresponding sustainability project. This works because the climate doesn’t care where on earth the emissions are produced, avoided or offset.

To compensate, institutions, companies and private individuals can buy so-called emission reduction credits – also known as CO2 certificates. They correspond to the amount of greenhouse gas emissions they cause. The money raised in this way is used to finance climate protection projects that offset the corresponding amount of CO2 emissions.

Gold Standard: WWF wants to prevent junk certificates

Since mineral oil companies in particular are legally obliged to compensate for CO2 and more and more private individuals want to clear their conscience, the range of CO2 certificates is high. The qualitative difference between the individual providers is correspondingly large.

According to the WWF, there are a relatively large number of scrap certificates on the market that cannot prove any actual climate impact. However, there is a seal of approval that was developed by the WWF and numerous other NGOs: the so-called Gold Standard.

What is the gold standard for CO2 certificates?

Established became the Gold Standard in 2003. It aims to ensure that projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions have the highest level of environmental sustainability while contributing to sustainable development.

With the passing of the Paris climate agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, the Gold Standard is intended to set a best-practice standard for action in the area of ​​climate and sustainable development. The goal: Maximize impact and create value for people around the world and the planet.

To ensure sustainability, the Gold Standard verifies climate protection projects that promote either renewable energy or sustainable energy efficiency. These include, for example, projects with a focus on safe drinking water production, forestry and improved arable farming.

Gold Standard: How to recognize reputable CO2 certificates

Among environmental organizations and NGOs the Gold Standard is considered one of the most meaningful and effective seals. This is mainly due to the close cooperation with institutions in the field of sustainability and environmental protection. Thus, buyers of CO2 certificates can see which projects actually have a positive effect.

Conversely, this also means that when buying and selling C02 certificates, you should make sure that they bear the Gold Standard. They are subject to strict test criteria and, compared to other standards, focus not only on reducing emissions but also on the goals of sustainable development.

The award-winning projects receive verification for the Gold Standard through a transparent certification process. The seal therefore stands for the fact that the CO2 compensation is credible.

In addition, all certificates are included in the register of the Gold Standard. This should guarantee complete traceability. After purchase, a certificate testifies to the decommissioning of CO2 emissions in real time. This in turn prevents a certificate from being traded further. Only then is real CO2 compensation possible and greenwashing can be avoided.

Conclusion: Gold Standard for CO2 certificates is good, avoiding emissions is better

In the opinion of the WWF, CO2 compensation hardly contributes to the implementation of the goals of the Paris climate agreement – because it is about drastically avoiding and reducing CO2 emissions globally. However, mere compensation is not enough.

Nevertheless, compensation offers a way to offset the CO2 produced and to positively influence the effects of the climate crisis in private life.

To date, there are 2,900 Gold Standard certified projects in over 100 countries. A total of 238 million tons of CO2 have already been offset or reduced in this way.

Nevertheless, the WWF points out the basic rule: “First of all, CO2 emissions should be avoided or at least reduced as far as possible. Compensation is only an option if both are not possible.”

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