Claims Readiness Check

ⓘTo be eligible for a Carbon Integrity Claim, your organization should publicly disclose annually its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory. This transparency demonstrates accountability and commitment to addressing climate change. The inventory should include data on scope 1, scope 2, and scope 3 emissions, and be disclosed in an annual sustainability report and/or on your company’s website.

ⓘ Achieving third-party assurance of your scope 1 and scope 2 emissions enhances the credibility of your data and builds trust with stakeholders. Begin by identifying a reputable third-party auditor specialized in GHG emissions verification. Implement robust data collection processes to ensure accurate and consistent reporting, then engage with the auditor to review and verify your emissions inventory.

ⓘ Committing to reach net zero emissions by 2050 is crucial for aligning with global climate goals. VCMI acknowledges that deep, rapid and sustained reductions in GHG emissions are urgently needed to achieve global net-zero by the middle of this century. To be eligible to make a claim, your commitment must reflect this requirement.

ⓘ Science-aligned targets are based on the latest climate science consensus on the safe upper limits for global warming. Specifically, they align with an IPCC model pathway that limits global warming to 1.5°C with no or limited overshoot. To meet these standards, your organization should set near-term emissions reduction targets in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

ⓘ Publicly supporting the Paris Agreement signals commitment to global climate efforts. Consider formalizing this support through your corporate sustainability policy and aligning your strategy accordingly.

Companies can refer to the Global Standard on Responsible Corporate Lobbying and its four categories (i.e., Policy and Commitment, Governance, Action, and Specific Disclosures) as best practice to describe alignment of advocacy activities with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

ⓘ Each Carbon Integrity Claim requires the purchase and retirement of high-quality carbon credits proportionate to the company’s remaining emissions, once a company has met or demonstrated progress towards meeting its near-term targets, with those credits only used to accelerate global net-zero.

ⓘ In order to make a Carbon Integrity Claim, companies must purchase the following volume of credits in relation to the total annual carbon emissions inventory.

• Carbon Integrity Silver (≥ 10% and < 50%)
• Carbon Integrity Gold (≥ 50% and < 100%)
• Carbon Integrity Platinum (≥ 100%)

ⓘ Companies should seek out and use carbon credits of the highest quality, both to underpin the credibility of their claims and to help drive integrity across the market.

Companies shall purchase and retire Core Carbon Principles (CCP)-Approved credits. CCPs that have been published by the ICVCM constitute a basis to assess the quality of carbon credits and, in the absence of the more detailed rules, are a useful framework to guide carbon credit purchases.

Find out more on Pg. 30 of the Claims Code of Practice.