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Isometric Standard
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The Isometric Registry records Verified Credits that represent emission impacts which satisfy the latest Version of the Isometric Standard. This includes net Removals of atmospheric carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) and Reductions of specified greenhouse gas emissions. The Isometric Standard, detailed in this document, lists the requirements that ensure Delivered Credits have measurable climate impact. In summary, Credits must represent a Removal or Reduction, be Additional and be calculated using the latest scientific techniques. This includes a scientifically robust Uncertainty quantification meeting at minimum with the requirements outlined in the Standard.
Isometric coordinates quantification and Verification necessary to Issue Credits on the Isometric Registry. All data, calculations and evidence associated with Credits are publicly available.
This Isometric Standard sets out the duties and obligations of stakeholders in relation to the Isometric Registry. Its purpose is also to provide for a consistent and predictable experience for all parties engaging with the Isometric Registry.
This Standard and the rules contained herein were designed and developed by Isometric HQ Limited.
Throughout this Standard, and throughout Isometric Protocols, the words below are to be interpreted as follows:
The Isometric Crediting Program is guided by the Isometric Standard, and exists to:
The Isometric Standard sets requirements that all Isometric Protocols must meet at a minimum.
The Isometric Crediting Program adheres to the following principles:
Collaboration
Incentive Alignment
Scientific Rigor
Transparency
Isometric works with Projects conforming to a Protocol which has undergone or will undergo the Isometric Certification Process. Projects are not eligible if:
Isometric Issues two Types of Credits:
Projects can issue multiple Types of credit.
Isometric works with Projects worldwide. Isometric works in English. Additional languages may be considered given translation by a trusted source.
In some instances, Modules within Protocols may be tailored for Projects which have geographical specificities. In this circumstance, geography-specific alterations to utilized Modules will be made clear in order to maintain transparency amongst Project Proponents.
Isometric issues Removal and Reduction credits. The following greenhouse gasses (GHGs) are relevant:
In evaluating the comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of a Project, all GHGs are considered. Isometric uses the United States Environmental Protection Agency definition of GHGs1, which includes: carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).
This Isometric Standard was first published 4th October 2023.
This document will be updated on an ongoing basis to reflect changes in the operation, governance and/or rules that apply to either Projects on, or activity described by, the Registry.
Any proposed material changes to the Standard will be put forward for review by the independent Science Network. Following any amendments resulting from that process, the draft changes will be put out for public comment. After having incorporated any further amendments, the final changes will be published in an updated version of the Standard, alongside a clear explanation of the stakeholder input received and how this informed the final changes that were made.
Version numbers follow the MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH format, where three non-negative integers denote the version of the Standard.
Incrementing each number signifies a different type and magnitude of change:
A full changelog, along with all previously published versions and their dates of publication, is publicly available on Isometric’s website.
NewRequirements versionsthat govern Isometric's own conduct, as well as requirements which VVBs follow (i.e. those framed as "Isometric will…" or “the VVB will…”) are always those set out in the most recent Certified version of the Standard.
A followProject adheres to a specific minor version of the sameIsometric Standard (the “Project’s Standard version”).
Projects must validate against the most recent certified version of the Standard. Projects may qualify for an earlier version by commencing Validation or initiating Project registration on the Registry prior to the new version's certification.
Projects must adhere to Requirements (e.g. those framed as "Projects must…") from the Project’s Standard version, but may choose to upgrade to a later version of the Standard.
Upon renewal of a Crediting Period, Projects must be re-Validated against the most recent Certified version of the Standard.
Isometric reserves the right to issue a mandatory adoption requirementsschedule in exceptional circumstances in order to resolve a substantive vulnerability, or due to material changes in realms such as thescientific onesknowledge, outlinedtechnology forand/or regulatory frameworks. Any requirements made mandatory in this way will be clearly marked in the Protocol version adoption in Section 2.4.5Standard.
The appropriate citation for the document is the Isometric Standard (2026), version 2.0.
This section outlines the requirements for all Isometric Certified Protocols including Isometric Certified Modules.
All Projects must be Validated against, and Removals and Reductions Verified against, an Isometric Certified Protocol.
[/R-NK7R-0]An Isometric Certified Protocol is a Protocol developed by Isometric that has undergone Public Consultation, and is listed as Certified on the Isometric Registry. Protocols may incorporate Modules, using the Isometric Modular Framework.
Isometric will not list multiple Protocols or Modules as Certified where they pertain to the same or essentially the same underlying carbon removal activities.
A Protocol can incorporate an existing Isometric Certified Module. Modules are developed by Isometric and follow the same Certification process.
Each Protocol minor version specifies and locks in the exact minor versions of all Modules which it incorporates. Once certified, this combination never changes, so the Protocol minor version number alone specifies which Module versions apply.
All Protocols will incorporate the same Modules for GHG accounting, in order to create a consistent accounting framework across all Projects.
Isometric will review individual Modules annually and be responsible for version changes in accordance with our Updates to Protocols policy.
The external Consultation process will be as follows:
Expert review will be conducted through the Isometric Science Network. Expert review is the process in which the internal Isometric Science Team invites individuals with deep subject matter expertise to submit feedback on a Protocol or Module. Isometric generously compensates experts for their detailed review with a flat hourly fee paid upon feedback submission.
Public Consultation will be announced on the Isometric Registry and to the Isometric Science Network. Protocols and Modules are open for public commenting for a minimum of 30 days. All relevant stakeholder comments are considered and responded to by the internal Isometric Science Team, and the results of the Consultation will be published on the Registry. All anonymized comments and reviews will be made available upon request.
Typically, at least 5-10 scientific experts are engaged for a given Module or Protocol via the combination of the above processes.
When a Protocol is updated and the changes to it are limited to introducing, upgrading, or removing Modules that have already undergone Consultation, the Module Consultations fulfill the Protocol Consultation requirement. A Module Consultation must address the impact of the Module on any Protocol that will incorporate it.
The internal Isometric Science Team will review a Protocol or Module if Isometric deems it necessary due to material changes in realms such as scientific knowledge, technology and/or regulatory frameworks. This review will be completed within a period of 6 months from the date an issue is raised. If the review results in substantial changes to a Protocol or Module such that a new version is required, these changes will adhere to the Protocol Certification process.
In addition to the triggers for review outlined above, each Protocol will be reviewed at the sooner of the following criteria:
Major and minor changes will be documented on the Isometric Registry and published alongside the results of a public commenting period of a minimum duration of 30 days. All versions of Protocols and Modules will be documented, archived and made publicly available. All revisions and updates will be systematically versioned according to the Protocol version number format.
Isometric reserves the right to suspend and/or withdraw a Protocol if deemed necessary due to credible, evidence-based concerns that carbon removal activities are being overestimated or that Additionality may not be ensured. In such exceptional cases, Isometric may take immediate action to suspend and/or withdraw a Protocol. The Protocol may then be re-introduced following the usual period of public consultation in the case of any material change.
Credits issued against a previous Protocol version are not affected by Protocol updates, unless otherwise specified with justification in the updated Protocol. Projects must update to newer Protocol versions according to Protocol adoption requirements, with continuity of operations protected by Protocol backward compatibility mechanisms.
For the purposes of Protocol versioning, material changes are defined as those which affect how Validations and Verifications are conducted, or their outcomes. If a change requires Validation and Verification Bodies to modify their approach, methods, or decisions, it is considered material.
Version numbers follow the MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH format, where three non-negative integers denote the version of the Protocol or Module. Incrementing each number signifies a different type and magnitude of change:
A full changelog for each Protocol, along with all previously published versions and their dates of publication, is publicly available on Isometric's website.
New Projects must validate against the most recent certified major and minor version of the relevant Protocol. Projects may qualify for an earlier version by commencing Validation or initiating Project registration on the Registry prior to the new version's certification. Isometric may also, at its discretion, permit a Project Proponent to validate a Project against an earlier Protocol version in other scenarios; for example if the most recent version has not been approved by ICVCM or CORSIA.
The adoption requirements upon release of a new Protocol version are as follows:
Isometric reserves the right to issue a mandatory adoption schedule in exceptional circumstances in order to resolve a substantive vulnerability, or due to material changes in realms such as scientific knowledge, technology and/or regulatory frameworks.
When new Protocol versions are Certified, Projects can continue operating uninterrupted through the use of the following backward compatibility mechanisms:
All Protocols must include an Applicability section.
The Applicability section must, at a minimum, outline the activities to which the Protocol applies and whether Removal credits, Reduction credits, or both are generated from applicable Projects.
The Applicability section may also set out conditions that a project must meet in order to be eligible for crediting under the Protocol, including specific baseline requirements.
Protocols require Cradle-to-Grave GHG accounting of all emissions associated with a Project's Removal and/or Reduction process.
The GHG emissions that result from the Project's activities within the defined boundary, combined with any Leakages must together encompass the entire impact of a Project on GHG emissions. This must be presented as part of a GHG Statement and corresponding GHG Statement Report.
All Projects must have a defined temporal and geographic project boundary.
[/R-VHWJ-0]The system boundary for GHG accounting sets out the GHG Sources, Sinks, and Reservoirs associated with the project boundary and to be considered in the GHG Statement. The system boundary is specified by the relevant Protocol and must include at a minimum all GHG SSRs from:
All Projects must be assessed against a Baseline scenario of their activities not having taken place.
[/R-PGFH-1]Establishment of the Baseline scenario will differ between Project types and will be specified in the relevant Protocol.
A project's Counterfactual is:
This must be calculated using conservative assumptions, as outlined in relevant Protocols, and must be assessed for every Removal or Reduction.
[/G-HF2Y-1]Project Baselines must account for any existing government policies or legal requirements that lower GHG emissions.
[/G-53YK-1]Projects will only be Credited for Removals or Reductions above and beyond what was likely to have occurred in the Baseline scenario.
Projects must reassess and validate the Baseline scenario whenever they request a Crediting Period renewal.
Protocols can use Default Emission Factors, Standards, Proxies and Models to quantify Removals or Reductions, demonstrate Additionality and/or establish Baselines. In metered systems, the preference is for direct measurement of required variables.
Proxies and Models will only be permitted for use under circumstances which are justifiable, such as for reasons of practicality, reliability, and for gap filling in variable un-metered systems.
[/R-NZQ2-0]This justification must be outlined in the Protocol. Proxy measurements are secondarily preferred, and models may be used when neither Proxy or direct measurements are viable.
When used, Models and Proxy measurements must apply Conservative Uncertainty factors and make Conservative assumptions.
[/G-GYAF-0]Assumptions and estimations must be disclosed and justified.
[/G-4K64-0]When Models and Proxy measurements are used, Uncertainty must be assessed and clearly outlined in the Protocol.
[/G-R81S-0]Further requirements and guidance for the use of Default Emission Factors, Standards, Proxies and Models in Protocols are outlined below.
The Protocol must appropriately cite and describe the source of any third-party Default Emission Factor, Standard, Model or Proxy. Third-party Default Emission Factors and Standards must be either internationally recognized or derived from a Reputable Source.
Where a newly established Default Emission Factor is used in a Protocol, the reasoning behind this choice and documentation of Default Emission Factor calculations must be clearly outlined and will be subject to review in accordance with the Consultation Requirements.
Protocols must identify Default Emission Factors that are likely subject to future changes. Default Emission Factors can be subject to updates and revisions given the Isometric Updates to Protocols policy.
Proxies must be shown to be well-correlated with the variable of interest, preferably through established calibration studies from Reputable Sources.
[/G-BWXE-0]The Proxy data, empirical fits, correlation data, and sources must be provided to Isometric and verified at the project’s next verification.
[/G-ZHS3-0]Models must be from a Reputable Source and/or shown to be reliable via peer-review, testing or correlation with empirical data.
[/G-K6MR-0]The source of models, any modifications, input parameters, data used and validation results must be clearly outlined to Isometric and verified at the project’s next verification.
[/G-6VGD-0]All calculations must use consistent, standardized factors, including the following:
Global Warming Potential (GWP): Unless otherwise stated in a Protocol or Module, calculations must use the 100-yr GWP for the GHG of interest, based on the most recent volume of the IPCC Assessment Report, currently the Sixth Assessment Report2.
Uncertainty is due to factors such as inability to precisely measure certain physical phenomena and/or assumptions in Models or GHG accounting. Protocols must set up frameworks that allow for the reduction of uncertainties with time as measurements, models, and scientific understanding improves.
Emission impacts can have a Risk of Reversal and a finite durability associated with them. Alternatively, some Reductions are permanent with no risk of reversal, for example when a high GWP gas is permanently converted to a low GWP gas.
Protocols and Modules will specify if an emission impact has a risk of reversal and finite durability with one or more Durability Threshold(s), or in the case of some Reductions if it is permanent. Where a Protocol or Module does not explicitly specify a Durability Threshold or that the emission impact is permanent, the default Durability Threshold for the Protocol or Module is 1,000 years.
Projects following a Protocol or Module crediting non-permanent emission impacts must select from the Durability Threshold(s) defined in the Protocol or Module to be the Project Durability Threshold, by specifying this in the Project’s PDD.
[/R-7C8E-1]Projects crediting non-permanent emission impacts must demonstrate a Durability in excess of the designated Project Durability Threshold.
[/R-1T2Y-1]Removals or Reductions will only be Credited for their impact in excess of the specified Project Durability Threshold.
Where Projects generating Removals or Reductions cause additional storage or reduction below the Project Durability Threshold for the Project, this storage or reduction cannot count positively towards the end number of Credits, but can be used to offset losses in Counterfactual storage or reduction below the Project Durability Threshold, as outlined in the relevant Certified Protocol.
Protocols and Modules crediting non-permanent emission impacts will set requirements which Projects must meet in order to justify the claimed Project Durability Threshold.
These requirements may include:
A full risk assessment must be undertaken to identify all possible mechanisms that will lead to Reversals of crediting non-permanent emission impacts and subsequent decreases in Durability.
There must be a monitoring plan in place to quantify the amount of potential Reversal that may occur via each identified Reversal mechanism.
[/R-ENZR-1]The duration of storage monitoring required is process and location specific and requirements will be specified in the relevant Protocol.
Monitoring requirements must include:
Protocols must categorize the Risk of Reversal for determining the appropriate Buffer Pool Size.
[/R-V143-1]For Projects whose Protocol or Module for Crediting does not have its own risk assessment, Isometric has provided a risk questionnaire (see Appendix C) that can serve as guidance on how Risk of Reversal is determined.
[/G-EP06-1]The answers to the Protocol or Module specific risk assessment, or the default risk questionnaire, are used to support the Risk of Reversal and Buffer Pool Size.
The Risk of Reversal and the corresponding Buffer Pool Size are meant to compensate for the risk of Reversals that may be observed as a result of monitoring. The Buffer Pool is not meant to compensate for reversals of greenhouse gasses that are stored in an open system (e.g., the ocean) and direct observation of reversals would not be possible. In open systems, storage risks must be assessed as part of the Uncertainty assessment and accounted for in the Conservative estimate of Removal or Reduction. As such, Protocols that store carbon in open systems typically fall into the “No observable risk” Risk of Reversal category, and correspondingly are not required to make buffer pool contributions, or to complete a reversal risk questionnaire. This also applies to Reductions with a permanent emission impact. See Buffer Pools for further information.
Removals and Reductions are conducted and Verified as part of specific Projects. This section describes the requirements for Projects to be compliant with the Isometric Standard.
Projects must demonstrate that they have legal ownership over the rights to all Removals and Reductions that will be claimed from the Project, including at minimum making a representation to Isometric to this effect.
[/R-M858-1]When there are multiple parties involved in the Removal and/or Reduction process, and to avoid Double Counting, a single Project Proponent must be specified as the sole owner of the Removals and/or Reductions.
[/G-0KA1-1]Ownership must be defined in contracts between the Project Proponent and other Project participants, which may include, for example, suppliers of Feedstocks, transportation and logistics companies, and/or storage site owners and operators.
[/G-M85P-1]Contracts must:
These requirements do not preclude the project activity from involving multiple underlying entities (e.g., subsidiaries, special purpose entities or site owners).
For a Project to be evaluated for the Isometric Registry, the Project Proponent must document Project characteristics in a Project Design Document (PDD). The document will form the basis for Project Validation and evaluation in accordance with the relevant Certified Protocol. The PDD must be consistent with ISO 14064-2:2019 3, and must include:
Isometric will not publicly disclose sensitive business information inherent to data included in the PDD or otherwise provided by the Project Proponent. Information will be labeled as sensitive by the Project Proponent, and Isometric will communicate to the Project Proponent whether any information deemed sensitive is necessary to be shared in order to accurately reflect Removal and/or Reduction GHG calculations. Sensitive business information may include, but is not limited to:
This cannot prevent the disclosure of baselines and other underlying assumptions critical for robust quantification of Removals or Reductions.
Projects are only eligible to claim Credits for activities that are exclusively registered with the Isometric Registry. Projects are only eligible to receive Credits on the Isometric Registry using an Isometric Certified Protocol.
Prior to Project registration on the Isometric Registry, projects must undergo a 3010 day public comment period. Isometric will review all comments received during that period, and share these with the Project Proponent and the Project’s appointed VVB.
If any material comments are received during the initial 10-day period, or a stakeholder requests additional time to provide input, Isometric will extend the public comment period to a total of 30 days.
In response to comments received, Isometric or the appointed VVB may issue clarification requests or corrective action requests to the Project Proponent during the validation process. Any such corrective action requests must be addressed by the Project Proponent during the validation process. Isometric will publish a summary of comments received once Project validation is complete.
At time of Project application and Validation, Projects must use the latest available version of a Certified Protocol, unless a grace period has been explicitly specified by Isometric, whereby a former version of a Protocol may continue to be used for a defined time period. Where Validation occurs after Project application, the Protocol version required is that which was latest at the time of application.
Projects must conform to all relevant laws and regulations in the jurisdiction in which they operate.
Projects must be Additional, according to the guidance described in the Isometric Standard Additionality approach.
Projects must use appropriate Emission Factors as set out in relevant Protocols. Protocols and modules set guidelines for the types of emissions factors and sources of emission factors that are acceptable.
The Project Proponent is responsible for notifying Isometric of any changes to operations that could change the eligibility of their process. Following notification, the project's eligibility must be assessed at the project's next verification.
Projects are eligible to begin submitting GHG Statements to Isometric following Project Validation. Once Removals or Reductions are Verified, they may be used to issue Credits. A single project can issue Removal credits, Reduction credits or both. See Section 6 for more information on Crediting.
The initial Crediting Period Start Date for a Project designates the beginning of operational removal or reduction activity for the Project. The requested Crediting Period Start Date must be no earlier than 5 years before the initial submission of the Project to the Registry. GHG Statements may be submitted for activity which took place on or following the Crediting Period Start Date.
Projects are eligible to Issue Credits for the duration of the Crediting Period specified in the Project's PDD. If a Project Proponent wishes to renew the Crediting Period of a Project, an updated PDD must be provided and the Project must be re-Validated. There is no limit on the number of times a project can be renewed providing it is still in compliance with the relevant Certified Protocol. In general, the maximum Crediting Period is 10 years, unless otherwise specified by the relevant Certified Protocol. The only Certified Protocols which currently allow for a longer period are the Biogenic Carbon Capture and Storage Protocol and Direct Air Capture Protocol, which each have a 15 year Crediting Period, and Biosphere Protocols in which the Crediting Period is defined per project.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Protocol or Module, if a validated Project has not undergone a verification for more than 12 months since the previous verification, an updated PDD must be provided and the Project must be re-Validated.
Isometric does not Issue Ex-ante Credits.
The Project Proponent must be able to demonstrate four pillars of Additionality (Financial, Common Practice, Environmental and Regulatory), in order to show that the claimed environmental impact would not have otherwise occurred in the Baseline Scenario.
A Project can be considered Additional when all of the following criteria are met.
As per the requirements in Additionality, Projects must demonstrate that activities similar to the activities of the proposed Project are not Common Practice, by following the framework outlined here.
Projects must successfully demonstrate Common Practice Additionality via one of the following approaches. The approach chosen must be described in the Project PDD:
Pathway | Technology readiness level (TRL) |
|---|---|
Direct Air Capture (DAC) | 6 |
Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) | 3-4 |
Mineralization | 6-7 |
BiCRS / Bio-CCS | 5-6 |
Biochar* | 6-9 |
Oceans and Rivers** | 1-7 |
Reforestation | 8-9 |
Landill Methane Flaring and Utilization*** | 9 |
Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) of Pathways as defined by IPCC 4, and otherwise as estimated by Isometric. TRL of Biochar Projects may vary based on the maturity of the specific capture technology employed (e.g. biomass-boiler retrofits may indicate a higher TRL). TRL of Oceans & Rivers taken as range estimated by IPCC4 (1-2) and RMI5 (4-7) to reflect the fact that Oceans & Rivers pathway has a wide range of TRLs depending on the individual technology in question. TRL of LandillLandfill Methane Flaring and Utilization taken as estimated by a report commissioned by the UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC)6
Projects following Option (2) must provide an analysis justifying that activities similar to the activities of the proposed Project are not Common Practice, by following the below requirements.
[/G-7C8W-0]Projects must describe the applicable geographic area under consideration for the analysis. The default area is the country of Project operation, however the Project may propose a more specific region with justification, as outlined below.
If a Project proposes a more specific applicable geographic area, the Project must justify the essential distinctions between the applicable geographic area and the rest of the country of Project operation that give rise to different implementation conditions pertinent to the Project activity. Relevant factors may include:
Project Proponents must select one of the following two methods for undertaking a Common Practice analysis, within the applicable geographic area:
As per the above requirements in Additionality, the requirements of this section are only relevant where Removals or Reductions are not the main purpose and the only source of revenue of a Project.
In such a case, evidence of Financial Additionality must be provided via full Project financials.
Proof of Financial Additionality requires, at minimum, the calculation of the return on investment via calculation of the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) for the Project.
[/G-CDNX-1]The IRR determination must be completed in accordance with generally-accepted accounting practices. Furthermore, the assumptions, data and conclusions of the analysis must be consistent with information presented to the company’s decision-making management and investors/lenders. The analysis should be completed for a 10-year period, or if another length of time is chosen, justification must be given based on project circumstances. Non-depreciated residual values of any equipment or assets must be included as positive cash flows in the final year.
Existing government subsidies, public financing or tax incentives received must be taken into account as a revenue stream.
[/G-02HJ-1]The Project Proponent must determine the IRR for the Project without Carbon Finance revenues. For new Projects, the Project must ultimately demonstrate:
A Project may justify a higher IRR as additional if the Project Proponent can demonstrate that the Project requires such an IRR to enable financing for higher risk Projects, which may require higher interest rate loans, high interest rate venture or equity investment, or similar.
The Project must demonstrate that the economic performance of the mitigation activity increases decisively through carbon credit revenues, and that carbon credit revenues can raise the economic performance at or above the required financial benchmark (IRR).
The IRR analysis must also include a scenario analysis that demonstrates the ability to meet the above Additionality criteria for cases where values in the analysis change. Scenario analyses must include:
At a minimum, the IRR analysis must include variation of the factors above by ±20% or by a more appropriate value based on historical data or literature.
For pre-existing Projects:
Project Proponents must demonstrate Regulatory Additionality, meaning that the Project is not required by existing laws, regulations, policies, or other binding obligations. If the activity is required by such legal requirements, the Project is not considered Additional.
For UNFCCC non-Annex I countries7, Project Proponents must only demonstrate that the Project is not required by any systematically enforced laws, regulations, policies, or other binding obligations. In other words, the Project must not be required under “de facto” regulation, as opposed to “de jure” regulation. If relevant laws or regulations exist but are not systematically enforced, Project Proponents must provide evidence to demonstrate this lack of enforcement.
[/G-2PR2-0]Legal requirements that must be considered include, but are not limited to:
If the Project is legally required as described above, but the Project provides Removals or Reductions that exceed the legal requirement, the Removals in excess of the legal requirement may be considered additional if the other Additionality requirements are also met.
[/G-V14H-1]Projects must demonstrate a robust assessment of potential increases in GHG emissions outside the defined GHG system boundary that occurs as a result of the Project activity.
Leakage may be a result of activity shifting, market transformation or shifts in ecosystem processes and can relate to both upstream and downstream activities.
Where the potential for such Leakage is identified, it must be quantified and deducted from the Removals or Reductions in accordance with the relevant Protocol.
Projects must report a list of all parameters that are used in the Removal or Reduction calculations.
A sensitivity analysis that demonstrates the impact of each input parameter’s uncertainty on the final net CO2e uncertainty must be provided alongside a GHG Statement submitted for verification.
[/R-2AVD-1]Uncertainty information will vary depending on the data, but may include the type of distribution and parameters needed to describe uncertainty and/or shape of the data when plotted. Appendix A provides additional guidelines for assessing different types of uncertainties.
Furthermore, the source for information relevant to Uncertainty calculation and/or justification is required for each input parameter.
[/G-X9ET-0]Details of the sensitivity analysis method must be provided so that the results can be re-created.
[/G-NZQG-0]The stepwise process for reducing and documenting uncertainty is set out in Appendix B.
[/G-4Z2B-0]The Uncertainty information may be obtained from instrument calibrations, measurement variability, published literature, Proxies, expert judgment, and/or other Reputable Sources.
Projects must follow a procedure for incorporating Uncertainties into a Conservative estimate of Removal or Reduction. The following approaches are acceptable, and other methods may be considered after an internal Isometric review.
[/R-K6MA-0]A. Conservative estimate of input parameters
B. Variance propagation
C. Monte Carlo Simulations
Option A is suitable for Projects where it is difficult to obtain detailed information on input parameter distributions. Using conservative estimates of input parameters will lead to a Conservative Removal or Reduction estimate.
Option B can be used when parameters follow normal distributions and errors are linear (i.e., errors increase linearly as parameter values increase) and independent (i.e., changing one variable has no effect on another variable).
Option C provides a more comprehensive representation of Uncertainties and may result in more Credits Issued. This approach is suitable for Projects where sufficient information is available for all input variables so that Monte Carlo Simulations can be conducted.
As Removal and Reduction quantifications become better-constrained and more data is gathered, Protocols may progress from using Option A to Option B to Option C.
For Option A, a uniform distribution is assumed for all parameters, unless it can be demonstrated otherwise. Isometric recommends that the value used in the Removal or Reduction calculation be either ≤16th or ≥84th percentile, depending on which one yields a more Conservative estimate of Removal or Reduction. There may be instances where a parameter might only have a few reported values, and it does not make sense to assume a continuous distribution. In these cases, it would be more appropriate to use the minimum or maximum value as the Conservative estimate. See Appendix A for some examples.
For Option B, the variance must be defined for all input parameters. Variance propagation should be conducted following uncertainty propagation rules8, where the outcome is the variance in the Removal or Reduction. Isometric recommends that the Conservative Removal or Reduction estimate be at least 1 standard deviation (square-root of the variance) below the mean, equivalent to ≤16th percentile.
For Option C, the input distributions must be specified for all input parameters. The final distribution for the Removal or Reduction is determined by randomly sampling from input distributions many times (e.g., n = 1,000).9 The Conservative estimate of Removal or Reduction will be ≤16th percentile for consistency between Option B and C in the case of normal distributions.
Parameter Uncertainties that are based on expert judgment and which contribute the most significantly to the final Removal or Reduction calculation (based on a Sensitivity Analysis) will be subject to expert review by Isometric and/or selected Science Network experts.
Relevant stakeholders must be informed of the Project's proposed and current activities by the Project Proponent.
[/G-BC4Z-0]All stakeholders must be equitably represented, involved and able to contribute freely. This includes but is not limited to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), stakeholders with land-tenure rights, local policymakers. Additional stakeholders may include regional or national government officials, local NGOs, or other groups likely to be affected by the project.
[/G-Z10M-0]Consultation with stakeholders and rights-holders must be conducted and evidence of these meetings must be submitted to Isometric.
[/R-ZHRN-1]Consultations must meet the requirements below.
Project Proponents must inform Isometric about any new grievances that are raised no later than 14 days after receipt by the Project Proponent.
Projects must identify and demonstrate within the PDD the method(s) for compliance with regulations for all jurisdictions to which the Project is beholden.
[/R-KQCS-0]Projects must comply with national and local laws and regulations and, where relevant, international conventions and standards.
[/R-9MJQ-0]Projects must consider the material environmental and social impacts that could potentially arise as a result of their activities, both within and beyond its boundary, and at minimum must do no net environmental or social harm.
[/R-X9EC-0]Remediation of any unintentional harm, caused directly or indirectly by a project, must be carried out by a Project Proponent. Failure to adequately remediate any harm caused may result in cessation of credit issuance. The consideration of these impacts must be ongoing throughout a Project's lifespan and assessments updated when necessary, and must include provisions for Project closure and post-closure.
For each aspect of the environmental and social impacts assessment, the Project must demonstrate how these risks have been assessed and, if applicable, what mitigation plan is in place to prevent them.
[/G-TGC2-0]If risks are not applicable to the project this finding must be reported to Isometric, and environmental regulators where applicable, and justified within the PDD.
[/G-E57Q-0]A full Environmental and/or Social Impact Assessment (EIA and/or SIA) conducted by a third party is suggested for all Projects but is only required if impacts are considered significant and/or if required by the host jurisdiction.
[/G-1T3C-0]It is the responsibility of the Project to ensure that any EIA or SIA undertaken meets all local, regional and national and international regulations and laws.
Assessments undertaken to evaluate the potential for environmental harm by a Project may be undertaken with varying formats, names and costs, depending on the location of a Project. These assessments are commonly named environmental impact assessments (EIA) and are often required under specific environmental laws or regulations. Within some countries, such as the U.S., multiple levels or types of EIA may exist. Within the U.S. EIAs exist as Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and Environmental Assessments (EA), with requirements for each type of assessment varying on a federal and state by state basis. It is the responsibility of the Project Proponent to identify specific requirements for EIAs within the location and type of a Project. Within this Standard all such assessments are referred to as Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA).
A Project must demonstrate that it creates no net environmental harm.
[/R-4K5P-0]These assessments and mitigation strategies must consider the potential negative environmental risks from a Project’s implementation. This must include, but is not limited to, the following, as outlined in the ICVCM Core Carbon Principles10:
A Project must demonstrate that it creates no net social harm.
[/R-R81B-0]These assessments and mitigation strategies must consider the potential negative social risks from a Project’s implementation. This must include, but is not limited to, the following, as outlined in the ICVCM Core Carbon Principles10:
Projects must demonstrate, where relevant and feasible, how their carbon removal activities are consistent with relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) objectives of all jurisdictions in which they operate.
[/R-BWX0-0]The SDGs are a set of 17 global and interconnected goals established by the United Nations in 2015 to address a wide range of social, economic and environmental issues.
Such an explanation must be included in the Project Design Document. If applicable, a qualitative assessment must be included for any positive impacts identified in relation to SDGs other than SDG13. Project Proponents must provide information on any standardized assessment tools and methods used as part of this explanation.
Projects credited under the Isometric Standard must use project-level consequential analysis to determine net removals or reductions associated with project activities. Projects must be assessed against a baseline scenario of the project not taking place. Attributional analysis is acceptable as a proxy for project emissions accounting.
Projects may submit Removals and Reductions in the same GHG Statement but they must be reported separately:
All Projects must follow GHG accounting requirements as set out by the relevant Protocol and Modules.
This includes following GHG Statement boundaries and adhering to GHG accounting principles such as data quality and materiality.
All evidence and data related to the underlying quantification of Removals or Reductions will be available to the public through Isometric's platform for any Verified Credit. This includes:
The Project Proponent may request for confidential information to be restricted, whereby it will only be available to authorized Buyers, Isometric and designated VVBs (during Validation or Verification). This includes emissions factors from licensed databases. However, all other numerical data produced or used as part of the quantification of CO₂e removed or reduced may not be restricted in this way.
This section defines the requirements for Validation and Verification of Projects on the Isometric Registry. Accredited VVBs Validate Projects and Verify Removals and Reductions in line with this Isometric Standard and a Certified Protocol.
All VVBs are approved by Isometric independently and impartially based on alignment with Conflict of Interest policies, rotation of VVB policies, oversight on quality, and the following requirements:
All Projects must undergo an initial Project Validation, carried out by an independent VVB, to assess conformity with the Isometric Standard, and with the applied Certified Protocol. Once a Project has been Validated, the Project is subsequently able to submit GHG Statements to Isometric. Isometric requires Verification of any GHG Statements in order to Issue Credits. Validation and Verification will be carried out in line with ISO 14064-3 and ISO 14065. Additional requirements are listed below.
Prior to Validation/Verification, the VVB must prepare a Validation/Verification plan that details the activities and schedules. The plan may be revised as necessary during the process. The plan must be communicated with the Project Proponent and must include, at minimum:
The Verifier must produce a report that documents the activities, results, findings, and conclusion of the Verification. The Verification report must contain, at a minimum18:
Following this process, Isometric will review the Project documents used for Validation and Verification, and either accept them, request corrections or clarifications for the Project Proponent or VVB to address, or reject them. Once Isometric has reviewed and approved the initial Validation Report for a Project, the Project will be listed as Validated on the Registry, with the date of Isometric’s approval listed as the “Approval Date” (also known as a “registration date”) of the Project. For Verifications, once Isometric has accepted a Verification Report, the corresponding Removals and Reductions will be deemed Verified, and eligible for issuance of Credits.
For both Validations and Verifications, the results of the Validation/Verification process, including the Validation/Verification Report and Opinion, will be made available for each Project.
The threshold for Materiality, considering the totality of all omissions, errors and mis-statements, is 5% of net Removal or Reduction for all Projects. To accept a Verification Opinion, Isometric requires that discrepancies between the Removal or Reduction Claimed by the Project Proponent and that estimated by the VVB for a given statement be less than the Materiality threshold.
Qualitative materiality issues may also be identified and documented, such as19:
Any organization which has been involved in the development of a particular Project may not act as a VVB for Validation and/or Verification purposes for that Project.
To minimize the risk of conflicts of interest occurring between the Project Proponent and the VVB, Isometric will select and engage VVBs for Project Validation and Verification, and VVBs must complete a conflict of interest disclosure.
Isometric requires that Projects must work with a single VVB for no longer than five consecutive years. A given VVB may conduct Verification for a Project during no more than five out of seven consecutive years.
In addition to the qualification requirements, Isometric may oversee VVB activity during the Validation and/or Verification process, and may suspend approval of a previously approved VVB. Oversight can include review of VVB documentation, including Verification and sampling plans, reports, opinions and conflict of interest disclosures, as well as review of Project Proponent documentation.
Isometric will report significant and/or repeated VVB performance concerns to the relevant accreditation body.
Isometric issues two Credit Types:
Credits may be Issued, Transferred and Retired on the Isometric Registry according to the rules and requirements set out in this section.
Isometric is the sole Credit issuing body on the Isometric Registry.
Credits have only one owner at any time. A full ownership history is tracked and is publicly visible for each Credit. Each Credit is Issued Ex-post against a net Verified Removal or Reduction thereby ensuring every net tonne of CO2e emission impact is Credited and accounted for only once, and that any Credit can be traced back to an individual Removal or Reduction.
Each Credit has a publicly available history of ownership that indicates when the Credit was first Issued, who it was first Issued to, if and when it was subsequently Delivered or Transferred, if and when it was Retired and by whom, on behalf of whom.
When first Issued, a Credit's status is Active. Upon Retirement of a Credit, its status becomes Retired. Similarly, upon Cancellation of a Credit (for example, in compensation for erroneous overissuance, or in compensation for a Reversal as outlined in Reversals and Buffer Pools), its status becomes Canceled.
Credit metadata include:
Credits are Issued representing a specific Removal or Reduction. This process is undertaken once the net Removal or Reduction has been Verified against the respective Protocol. Credits are always Issued to the Project Proponent of the Removal or Reduction. The Project Proponent is then able to Deliver Credits to Buyer Credit Accounts on the Registry, and can do so at a time and in an order of their own discretion.
Deliveries can be made by Project Proponents to Buyer Credit Accounts, resulting in transfer of ownership of one or more newly Issued Credits. Further Transfers can be made by Credit Account holders to other Credit Accounts, resulting in transfer of ownership of one or more Credits. For each Credit, the initial Delivery and all Transfers are logged on the Credit and made publicly available in the Credit's history.
Project Proponent Deliveries are subject to the following rules:
Buyer Transfers are subject to the following rules:
Retirement is the mechanism by which a Credit's ownership state is finalized. This ensures that once the net tonne of CO2e represented by the retired Credit is used towards an accounting activity, it can never be used again by the owner, the Beneficiary of the retirement, or any other actor.
The Beneficiary of a Retirement is the organization on behalf of whom the Credit was retired, and must be publicly identified. Beneficiaries can be the current holder of a Credit at the time of retirement, or an organization that is specified by the Credit Account holder during the Retirement procedure. The Credit Account holder can retire Credits by following the Retirement process through their Credit Account on the Registry.
The owner of an unretired Credit may publicly market its ownership of said Credit, as well as the potential for the Credit to be retired by any current or future owners, but only the Beneficiary of a Retired Credit may claim the environmental benefits associated with that Credit.
Retirement is subject to the following rules:
Retirement Certificates serve as proof of the Retirement of one or more Credits, and are produced only on completion of a Retirement. Every Retirement Certificate relates to one or more Retired Credits. If more than one Credit is Retired at a time, the Certificate will list all Retired Credits. Retirement Certificates show the relationship between retired Credits and the Removals or Reductions they derive from.
This section outlines how Reversals are handled on the Isometric Registry, through the use of Buffer Pools.
All Reversals will be reviewed by the Isometric Science Team.
Note that changes to calculations as a result of updates to Protocols are not considered Reversals, and will generally not affect previously issued Credits. However, Isometric will monitor for significant impacts due to Protocol updates to ensure overall quality and to address system level impacts (e.g. considerable evolution of scientific consensus).
Project Proponents must monitor for Reversals as prescribed by a Project's Monitoring Plan, and promptly report potential Reversals to Isometric if identified. Isometric’s expectation is for such a report to be made within one business day of having been identified, but must be made within a maximum of three business days. At the verification following a Reversal, the Project Proponent must report relevant monitoring data for any Reversal which has occurred, to be assessed by the verifier as part of that verification. Reversal data from Projects will be made public.
[/G-F1WD-1]When a Reversal is identified, Credits will be Canceled from the Project Proponent's Buffer Pool to compensate for the Reversal, according to the requirements in Buffer Pools.
In the event that a Project Proponent is temporarily unable to comply with monitoring requirements as outlined in the relevant Protocol, the treatment of possible Reversals will be assessed on a case by case basis by Isometric, in consultation with the Project VVB.
Furthermore, Reversals are classed as either Avoidable or Unavoidable, according to the following requirements:
The classification of a Reversal as either Avoidable or Unavoidable will be made by Isometric, in consultation with the Project VVB, according to the above requirements. This classification has implications in relation to the Project Proponent’s Buffer Pool, as outlined in Buffer Pools.
Isometric will maintain a Buffer Pool of Credits in accounts specific to each Project Proponent, from which Credits will be Canceled in the case of a Reversal. The number of Credits to be Canceled must equal the size of the Reversal.
In the case of Biosphere Protocols, a Buffer Pool of Credits specific to each Protocol will be maintained, and further requirements applicable to such Buffer Pools are set out in the applicable Protocols.
Isometric reserves the right to amend its Buffer Pool approach given notice and consultation with Project Proponents in line with this Standard's Updates to Protocols policy.
By default, all Projects must make buffer pool contributions, except for Projects which meet either of the following criteria:
For Projects contributing to a buffer pool, whenever Credits are Issued following a Verified Removal or Reduction, a percentage of these Credits will be Issued to the Project Proponent's Buffer Pool account, according to the Buffer Pool Size below.
Credits in a Buffer Pool cannot be Transferred, or used to make Deliveries during the Crediting Period or after the Crediting Period has ended, as they are held to accommodate for as long as there is a risk of Reversal from a Project. Exceptions may occur when Uncertainty decreases and thus Buffer Pool size is amended for a Project Proponent, in which case extra Buffer Pool Credits may be used to make Deliveries.
In the case that there are insufficient Credits in a Project Proponent's Buffer Pool to compensate for any triggered Reversals, all further Credits Issued from Removals and/or Reductions conducted by the Project Proponent (whether from the same Project, or other Projects run by the same Project Proponent) will be assigned to their Buffer Pool and Canceled, until all such Reversals have been fully compensated. Cases where Project Proponents cease operations will be addressed on an individual basis.
The Buffer Pool Size is determined by the Risk of Reversal of a given approach, as outlined below. The Risk of Reversal is defined in the relevant Certified Protocol. Projects with a higher Risk of Reversal have a correspondingly larger Buffer Pool. Note that the Buffer Pool is applied in addition to the Conservative approach taken in the quantification of net CO2e Removal or Reduction, whereby uncertainty is factored into the Credited Removal or Reduction. The following Buffer Pool sizes may be subject to change in future Standard versions based on empirical data.
Risk of Reversal | Buffer Pool Size |
|---|---|
No observable risk | 0% |
Very low | 1% |
Low | 5% |
Medium | 7% |
High | 10-20% |
Where an Avoidable Reversal has occurred, a Project Proponent must reimburse their Buffer Pool account by transferring a number of Credits equal to the size of the Reversal to the Buffer Account. While there are any outstanding Avoidable Reversals to be remedied in this way, all further Credits Issued from Removals and/or Reductions conducted by the Project Proponent (whether from the same Project, or other Projects run by the same Project Proponent) will be assigned to their Buffer Pool, until all such Reversals have been fully remedied.
Where an Unavoidable Reversal has occurred, the Project Proponent is not required to reimburse their Buffer Pool account.
Where a Project's Risk of Reversal assessment is revised downward, or where Isometric reduces the buffer pool contribution rate associated with a given risk category, the Project Proponent may be entitled to request a refund of the difference between credits previously contributed to the buffer pool and the amount that would have been required under the revised assessment or rate, so long as no Reversals have been triggered by the Project.
Any such refund shall be contingent upon confirmation of the revised risk of reversal assessment by the Project’s VVB at the Project's next verification. Upon successful verification confirming the lower risk assessment, and confirmation of a refund request by Isometric, the applicable number of Credits will be transferred to the Project Proponent’s account.
For the avoidance of doubt, where a change in Risk of Reversal assessment results from a material change in storage technology or a change to the Project's selected Storage Module(s) applicable only to new issuances—such that previous issuances would continue to be assessed at the original Risk of Reversal level—refunds under this section shall not apply to those previous issuances.
Where a Project Proponent can demonstrate that a Project is operating within a regulatory scheme that requires compensation for reversals, the Project may forgo Buffer Pool contributions. Recognition of an equivalent regulatory scheme means that reversals occurring under that scheme are considered compensated through the scheme’s own mechanisms, and the Project Proponent is not required to compensate for reversals through the Buffer Pool or other procedures defined in this Standard. The Project Proponent remains responsible for monitoring and reporting reversals in accordance with the Reversals requirements of this Standard.
The requirements for regulatory schemes to be considered as equivalent are:
The following regulatory schemes are recognized as providing qualifying coverage:
Suppliers seeking recognition under other regulatory schemes should contact Isometric with details of the applicable requirements. Recognition will be granted where Isometric determines the scheme provides substantially similar or improved protection compared to the buffer pool mechanism.
Isometric is exploring the recognition of insurance as an alternative mechanism for mitigating reversal risk. Where Project Proponents are able to demonstrate qualifying insurance coverage that provides equivalent or improved protection against reversal events, Isometric may in future permit reduced or replaced buffer pool contributions. Criteria for qualifying insurance arrangements will be published as they are developed.
Project Proponents interested in exploring insurance as an alternative to buffer pool contributions are encouraged to contact Isometric.
Isometric has rules and procedures in place to mitigate the risk of occurrence of Double Counting, which can occur in different ways, including double issuance, double use and double claiming.
Double issuance (occurring when more than one unique unit is Issued for the same Removal or Reduction activity) is not permissible, and Isometric has checks in place to mitigate the possibility of double issuance. Any Removal or Reduction activity listed on the Isometric registry must not be listed on another program, and may not be used to make a separate Removal or Reduction claim elsewhere. If the Project is associated with production of a commodity which is claiming an environmental attribute, the removals, or reductions may not be counted towards this environmental attribute.
In addition, it is not permissible to issue Credits for Removals or Reductions resulting from Removal or Reduction activities where credits related to the same climate impacts of the activity are traded in any other carbon crediting program.
Furthermore, it is not permitted to register Removal or Reduction activities or Projects with overlapping GHG accounting boundaries, except in the following circumstances:
In both of the above circumstances, the GHG accounting boundary of the Project must not overlap with activities registered with any other carbon crediting program. Secondly, the GHG accounting boundary must be clearly described between such Projects to ensure that all carbon fluxes are fully accounted for precisely once, thereby avoiding the possibility of double issuance.
Double use (occurring when an Issued credit is further transferred, used or retired after already having been retired) is mitigated through a transparent, public record of all Credits and Retirements, ensuring all Retirements used as claims towards mitigation targets can be uniquely identified, and can be traced back to the specific Removal or Reduction activity the Credit was Issued against. Once a Credit has been Retired, it cannot be used further, and a unique, public Retirement Certificate is produced.
Double claiming (occurring when an Issued credit is claimed twice towards achieving mitigation targets or goals) is not permitted on the Isometric Registry. For any Credit, no separate Removal or Reduction claims may be made for the underlying Removal or Reduction from which the Credit was Issued. Isometric will monitor for instances of Double claiming, and Credit Account users engaging in double claiming may have their Credit Account suspended.
To mitigate the risk of Double Counting and to prevent Projects seeking to avoid undertaking verification, monitoring, or corrective requirements through registration under alternative standards or programmes, ProjectsProject Proponents undergoing Validation must disclose:
Project Proponents wishing to issue credits that would be eligible as emissions units for the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) must comply with Isometric’s CORSIA Eligibility Policy.
To mitigate the risk of double claiming of any CORSIA-eligible emissions units, Project Proponents must agree with Isometric suitable mechanisms to compensate for double claims of their CORSIA-eligible emissions units by airline operators for CORSIA and Host Countries working towards fulfillment of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Project Proponents of CORSIA-eligible emissions must also comply with the information and reporting requirements in Isometric’s CORSIA Eligibility Policy, including monitoring relevant Host Country reporting and submitting accurate, timely information on corresponding adjustments to Isometric.
Project Proponents must report their sustainable development contributions or co-benefits in their Project Design Document, including indicators specified by Isometric and those that are publicly specified by a host country, for credits to be identified as CORSIA-eligible emissions units.
For Projects wishing to issue CORSIA Eligible Emission Units, a CORSIA Reversal Buffer Pool of Credits will be maintained with contributions determined by the Risk of Reversal defined in the relevant certified Protocol. More detail can be found in Isometric’s CORSIA Eligibility Policy.
Isometric commits to being the final guarantor of CORSIA-eligible emissions units, if other safeguards to reimburse CORSIA-eligible emissions units, such as a project's buffer pool contributions, other mechanisms outlined in Buffer Pools or insurance policies, are insufficient to fully compensate for any reversal of issued CORSIA-eligible emission units. Further detail is provided in the CORSIA Eligibility Policy.
During a Validation or Verification conducted by a VVB, if any non-conformities with Protocol or Standard requirements are identified, the VVB will classify these non-conformities according to three categories: Minor Non-Conformity, Major Non-Conformity, and Critical Non-Conformity.
The categorization of the non-conformity will determine the severity of the associated sanction Isometric will apply to the Project Proponent.
For the purposes of the issuance of a CRCF certificate of compliance, a failure to meet the requirements of relevant Modules and Protocols approved under the CRCF, as well as the quality criteria set out in Articles 4 to 7 of Regulation (EU) 2024/301220, will also be categorized as a Critical Non-Conformity.
Based on the classification of the non-conformities in Non-Conformities, Isometric will apply the following sanctions, which are in accordance with the CRCF implementing regulation. The applicable sanction applied will depend on whether the Credits or CRCF Certificate of Compliance have been issued.
In the case of a Minor Non-Conformity, the Project Proponent must remediate the issue during the current Validation or Verification, unless the VVB determines that it may be recorded as a Forward Action Request. Any such Forward Action Request must be addressed at the next verification, or by a date specified by the Verifier, and in any event within 12 months at the latest.
In the case of a Major Non-Conformity, if a Project has not been validated or a CRCF Certificate of Compliance has not been issued, the project will not be validated and no CRCF Certificate of Compliance will be issued until the non-conformity has been resolved. Where a CRCF Certificate of Compliance has already been issued or the Project has been validated, its Certificate of Compliance and further credit issuance to the Project will be suspended. The Project Proponent must implement remedial measures within 90 days of the major non-conformity being identified. If this remedial action does not occur within 90 days, the Project’s CRCF Certificate of Compliance will be cancelledcanceled and the Project will be delisted from the registry.
In the case of Critical Non-Conformity identified during a Verification or monitoring audit, or through Isometric's internal monitoring or complaints process, no further credits will be issued. Any Credits previously issued that are attributable to the Non-Conformity will be deemed as having undergone a Reversal, and the procedure in Reversals will apply. Any CRCF certified units will be subject to immediate cancellation and the remediation procedures described in Remediation for Fraud will apply.
In the case of a CRCF certificate of compliance, the certificate will be cancelledcanceled and there will be no further issuance of CRCF certified units. In the case of Projects seeking eligibility under the CRCF, where Validation has been refused or the CRCF Certificate of Compliance has been cancelled following a Critical Non-Conformity, the Project Proponent (or its legal predecessor) may not re-apply for CRCF certification under the Isometric Standard until a period of at least 12 months has passed from the date of refusal or cancellation, in line with Article 7(3) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2358. Re-application before the end of the fixed period will be rejected. Any re-application must demonstrate that the issues which led to the Critical Non-Conformity have been thoroughly addressed. Isometric may extend the fixed period beyond 12 months where the characteristics of the activity warrant a longer bar, in line with Article 7(3).
Any further credit issuance to the Project will be suspended. In the case of Projects which are not seeking eligibility under CRCF, the Project Proponent may re-apply to issue credits if they demonstrate that the issues which lead to the Critical Non-Conformity have been thoroughly addressed.
Project Proponents wishing to issue credits under the EU’s Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming certification scheme are subject to additional procedures and requirements to ensure they comply with the applicable legislation.
Projects seeking Validation under the Isometric Standard must indicate whether they wish to be approved to issue CRCF certified units. If so, Projects must use an appropriate Isometric Protocol and must comply with the procedures and requirements described in this Section.
Certification bodies and Project Proponents participating in the scheme are required by Isometric to cooperate with the Commission and the national competent authorities of the Member States, including granting access to the premises of Project Proponents where requested, and making available all information needed to fulfil their tasks under Articles 10, 12 and 13 of the CRCF Regulation.
If a Member State has reasonable doubts about the ability of a specific certification body to carry out its audit work and shares this with Isometric, Isometric shall immediately investigate and inform the Member States and the Commission of the outcome and any corrective actions.
In addition to the Validation and Verification Body Qualification Requirements set out in Validation and Verification Body Qualification Requirements, Isometric will apply the following additional requirements when appointing a VVB as a Certification Body under the CRCF:
The VVB must have the relevant legal status to perform certification activities through one of the following qualifying criteria, in line with Article 13(1)–(3) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2358:
If the VVB is not accredited
The VVB must also meet the following requirements:
Verification reports issued must include all information listed in Annex III of the Commission Implementing Regulation.
Isometric will run training courses for VVBs. This will include an exam which tests an auditor's (verifier's) overall technical expertise in the area. Auditors must participate in the training courses before performing audits for Isometric. Isometric will also provide guidance to VVBs on other relevant aspects of CRCF certification, including updates on the regulatory framework or findings from Isometric's internal monitoring process.
For Projects seeking eligibility under CRCF, Isometric will exclude a Project from this Standard in the following circumstances:
Isometric will ensure an efficient and timely exchange of information as it relates to the prevention of scheme hopping with other certification schemes. Where required, Isometric will ensure an efficient and timely exchange of audit information between Isometric and other authorised certification schemes to support the effective preparation and conduct of the audit.
Isometric has a CRCF compliancecomplaints policy in place. This compliance policy allows for complaints and whistleblowing to Isometric with respect to VVBs and Project Proponents.
Isometric ensures the protection of natural or legal persons who report infringements or lodge complaints in good faith in accordance with the Whistleblower Protection Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Isometric will maintain a register of all complaints made which relate to Projects issued under the CRCF. Upon request from a Member State or the Commission, Isometric will share all documents related to the complaint and its handling.
As standard, Isometric will pursue the approach to remediation described in Isometric’s CRCF compliancecomplaints policy. Where necessary, Isometric will apply the relevant remediation measures and sanctions for non-conformity by Project Proponents as set out in Non-Conformities and Sanctions of this Standard. Where necessary, Isometric will take corrective measures on its governance structure or on its internal monitoring process.
If Member States have reasonable doubts about the ability of a specific certification body to carry out its audit work, they may share that information with the other Member States, the Commission and the certification scheme. Isometric will immediately investigate and inform the Member States and the Commission of the outcome and any corrective actions
In cases where CRCF certificates have been issued on the basis of fraudulent information, the associated Credit Account of the Project Proponent will be suspended and any necessary compensation will be provided through cancellation of certified units.
The Project Proponent must procure an equivalent number of CRCF units and immediately cancel them within 90 days of notification. If the Project Proponent fails to do this, as a last resort Isometric will procure a corresponding number of CRCF certificates and cancel them.
Isometric will implement a system of internal monitoring to verify compliance of Project Proponents with the rules and procedures applied by this Standard and to ensure the quality of the work carried out by the auditors of the Certification Bodies.
Internal monitoring will be carried out at least once a year or at least at the same frequency of the audits to reflect the certification scope, as well as the level of risk of the activities carried out by the Project Proponents.
As part of the internal monitoring, Isometric will require Certification Bodies to provide all reports of the Validation (certification audit), Verification (re-certification audit), or monitoring audit. The internal monitoring will cover a random and risk-based sample of those audit reports by each Certification Body.
This section details requirements from Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2024/3012.
A CRCF activity plan is equivalent to an Isometric Project Design Document (PDD). PDD requirements are detailed in the Documentation section of the Isometric Standard. The following additional requirements apply to all Isometric CRCF PDDs:
A CRCF monitoring plan is equivalent to the Monitoring Plan section of each Isometric Project Design Document (PDD), in conjunction with the Project’s preliminary GHG Statement submitted during Validation.
All Isometric CRCF PDDs and GHG Statements must include:
Project Proponents must keep records of all relevant data and information for at least 10 years after the end of the Monitoring Period.
A CRCF monitoring report is equivalent to the GHG Statement submitted during Verification of Credits.
A GHG Statement contains all parameters measured and calculated for the quantification of removals and emissions of GHGs associated with the Project. The contents of a GHG Statement are defined by the relevant Isometric CRCF Protocol.
All Isometric CRCF Projects must convert emissions of non-CO2 GHGs to CO2e using the 100-year Global Warming Potentials set out in Annex I to the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1044.
Project Proponents must:
All measurements shall be conducted with calibrated measurement equipment according to industry standards including, where applicable:
Laboratories conducting analysis on behalf of the Project must be ISO 17025 accredited unless the Project Proponent can demonstrate this is not technically feasible or would incur unreasonable costs. The Project Proponent must demonstrate any non-accredited laboratory meets the requirements of ISO 17025 through ISO 9001 accreditation, other certified Quality Management System, or otherwise submit a PDD Appendix containing the following evidence for the laboratory:
Project Proponents must include in their PDD a robust climate risk and vulnerability assessment with the following steps:
The climate risk and vulnerability assessment is proportionate to the scale of the Project and its expected lifespan, such that:
The climate projections and assessment of impacts are based on best practice and available guidance and take into account the state-of-the-art science for vulnerability and risk analysis and related methodologies in line with the most recent IPCC reports, scientific peer-reviewed publications, and open source or paid models.
For existing Projects and new Projects using existing physical assets, the Project Proponent must prepare and execute a plan for adaptation solutions, over a period of time of up to five years, that reduce the most important identified physical climate risks that are material to that Project.
For new Projects and existing Projects using newly-built physical assets, the Project Proponent must integrate the adaptation solutions that reduce the most important identified physical climate risks that are material to that activity at the time of design and construction before the start of operations.
The adaptation solutions implemented must not adversely affect the adaptation efforts or the level of resilience to physical climate risks of other people, of nature, of cultural heritage, of assets and of other economic activities; and be consistent with local, sectoral, regional or national adaptation strategies and plans; and consider the use of nature-based solutions or rely on blue or green infrastructure to the extent possible.
In accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2024/3012, Isometric will make publicly available the following information related to its role as a Certification Scheme under the CRCF:
Isometric will also publish an Annual Operation Report covering the preceding calendar year, which will contain the following material:
CRCF - stands for Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming and is an EU-wide voluntary framework for certifying carbon removals, carbon farming and carbon storage in products.
CRCF Certificate of Compliance - A conformity statement issued by a certification body certifying that a project complies with Regulation (EU) 2024/3012; equivalent to an Isometric Verification Report in conjunction with the Project Validation Report.
CRCF Certified Unit - a Credit issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2024/3012
CRCF Activity - equivalent to an Isometric Project
CRCF Operator - equivalent to an Isometric Project Proponent
CRCF Certification Body - equivalent to a VVB
CRCF Certification Audit - equivalent to an Isometric Validation
CRCF Re-certification Audit - equivalent to an Isometric Verification
CRCF Activity Period - equivalent to an Isometric Crediting Period
CRCF Certification Period - equivalent to an Isometric Reporting Period
CRCF Activity Plan - equivalent to an Isometric Project Design Document (PDD)
CRCF Monitoring Plan - equivalent to the Monitoring Plan section of each Isometric Project Design Document (PDD)
CRCF Monitoring Report - equivalent to the GHG Statement submitted during Verification of Credits
CRCF Monitoring Audit - an audit carried out by a certification body during the monitoring period to verify monitoring of stored carbon and any reversals
CRCF Withdrawn Certificate - a certificate that has been permanently canceled by the certification body or the certification scheme
CRCF Expired Certificate - a certificate that is no longer valid
CRCF Terminated Certificate - a certificate that has been voluntarily cancelled while it is still valid
CRCF Non-conformity - a failure by an operator or a certification body to comply with the rules and procedures established by the certification scheme, of which they are members or under which they operate
Calculation of Uncertainty should follow documented best practices, such as the requirements of the Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology (JCGM) JCGM100:2008 - Evaluation of measurement data — Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement (GUM)19. Uncertainty can be assessed using two different methods:
Type B Uncertainties may frequently be encountered, since it is not always practical to make repeated measurements for every input parameter, and many input parameters are published values or estimated through other means.
Emission factors utilized should provide an Uncertainty value associated with the specific factor. Some databases from which emission factors are derived include and report the Uncertainty within the database21. The factor used, its source, and the value of the Uncertainty reported and used, should be documented. For emission factors for which no Uncertainty information is provided, clearly document this and refer to Unknown Uncertainties.
See the GUM for details on calculation of parameter or measurement Uncertainty. For instance, measurement parameter Uncertainty estimates could be derived from manufacturers specifications or calibration records. If repeated measurements are taken, the type A uncertainty should be reported as the standard deviation. Uncertainties should be documented and reported for each measured parameter.
For laboratory analyses, Uncertainty may be reported based on laboratory quality assurance documentation, including laboratory calibration results and records which use a reference calibration standard that is traceable to a national standard.
For a reported value based on multiple laboratory analyses, for which the value is reported as a mean, the type A uncertainty is calculated based on the standard deviation of the value around the mean.
When published Uncertainty information is not available and calculation via direct measurement is not feasible, estimation of Uncertainty should follow documented best practices, such as guidance from the GUM for evaluating type B Uncertainty. The specific approaches taken should be clearly documented.
Specifically regarding emission factors, the default values for basic Uncertainty from Section 10.1 of Ecoinvent’s Overview and Methodology document may be used. Ecoinvent’s protocol assumes a lognormal distribution for a value and then uses a Pedigree Matrix to assign uncertainties based on data quality.
Here are a couple of examples on how Option A (conservative estimate of input parameters) can be applied. These examples are for illustration purposes only:
Example 1: Uncertainty in Truck transportation carbon intensity
There are only a few carbon intensity factors published in a reputable emissions factor database for truck transportation. The factors range from 0.2 kg/km/t to 1.2 kg/km/t depending on different vehicle types, and the Project Proponent doesn’t know exactly what type of vehicle is used. In this case, a higher carbon intensity leads to less net CO2e Removal or Reduction and there are only a few relevant emissions factors to choose from so a distribution is not assumed. The project must take the conservative estimate to be the maximum value of 1.2 kg/km/t.
Example 2: Uncertainty in ocean DIC retention
For enhanced weathering in agriculture, a downstream loss term in the Removal calculation that cannot be directly measured is the percentage of bicarbonate ions from weathering that is retained as dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) upon reaching the ocean. A Project Proponent uses a regional ocean model to determine that the DIC retention fraction follows a normal distribution, with a mean of 0.90 and a standard deviation of 0.02. A lower DIC retention fraction results in less net CO2e Removal, so the conservative estimate is taken to be 1 standard deviation below the mean (corresponding to the 16th percentile). The conservative estimate of the DIC retention index is thus 0.88.
This appendix provides the detailed stepwise process for reducing and documenting uncertainty. The stepwise process must be completed alongside GHG Statements submitted for verification. Projects must demonstrate how they plan to reduce and document uncertainty as part of validation.
Step 1 - Input parameters information
Protocols must report a list of all parameters that are used in the Removal or Reduction calculations. Where uncertainty data is available from external sources, such as for emission factors or relating to equipment calibration, or where uncertainty information is determined from project measurements, this must be reported.
Step 2 - Contribution analysis
Separately, a Contribution Analysis should be undertaken that demonstrates the impact of each GHG SSR on the final net Removal or Reduction. This analysis should calculate the contribution of each GHG SSR by expressing the emissions associated with that SSR during the Reporting Period as a percentage of the total net removals for the same period.
Input parameters may be omitted from step 3 if the contribution analysis can demonstrate that the individual GHG SSR contributes to < 1% of net CO₂e Removal or Reduction and that all omitted GHG SSRs collectively contribute to < 1% of net CO₂e Removal or Reduction. For all other GHG SSRs, a Sensitivity Analysis is required.
[/G-9MK5-1]Step 3 - Sensitivity analysis
A sensitivity analysis must be conducted to evaluate the impact of uncertainty in each input parameter on the final net CO₂e removal or reduction. The method used must be clearly documented so results can be independently reproduced.
Where one input parameter contributes to multiple GHG SSRs, this must be treated as one input parameter.
The purpose of the sensitivity analysis is to determine how uncertainty in an individual input parameter affects the net CO₂e removal or reduction estimate. This is done by adjusting the parameter using an appropriate uncertainty factor and recalculating the net CO₂e removal or reduction while keeping all other parameters constant.
If the resulting change in net CO₂e removal or reduction is less than 1%, no further action is required. If the change is equal to, or exceeds 1%, the adjusted value must be used in the GHG Statement. An exception to this rule is allowable for input parameters where data has been adopted to calculate GHG emissions and, the Project Proponent can demonstrate that:
Any such justification must be clearly documented and supported by evidence.
When dealing with uncertainty, Project Proponents must follow the hierarchy outlined below to determine uncertainty factors:
For parameters not based on primary data, the uncertainty factor may be informed by:
All uncertainty factors must be clearly referenced, and the basis for their selection must be documented. Acceptable sources include instrument calibration data, published literature, expert judgment, proxies, and other reputable references. Additional guidance on assessing different types of uncertainties is provided in Appendix A.
The Sensitivity analysis must be repeated when any of the following conditions are met:
This questionnaire provides guidance on assessing Risk of Reversal, to be used by Protocols and Projects which need to make this assessment for use on the Isometric Registry.
This risk assessment identifies relevant material risk factors at the level of the Isometric Standard. The relevant risk factors from this Standard-level risk assessment are also specified at the Protocol level. Each relevant risk factor identified as part of a risk assessment must be included in the monitoring plan for a Project, and published as part of the Project Design Document.
The duration of required monitoring is determined in the relevant Protocol or Module. As above, the risk assessment informs the design of the monitoring plan requirements and consequently the extent, frequency and duration of monitoring.
Projects must re-assess their reversal risk using this questionnaire at the renewal of each crediting period, or sooner if:
If the relevant Protocol specifies that Reversals are not directly observable (i.e., the storage is an open system), the Project's Risk of Reversal is automatically "No observable risk." Such Projects do not need to complete this questionnaire, but must still maintain a monitoring plan in accordance with the requirements of the relevant Protocol. Where a Protocol does not specify this, Projects must complete the Risk of Reversal questionnaire.
Please see the Reversals and Buffer Pools for more details on how Risk of Reversal is used.
# | Question | If answered “Yes” | If answered “No” |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Is the carbon being stored in an impermeable geologic system? (e.g., salt cavern) | Proceed to questions 7-8 | Add 1 to Risk Score and proceed to questions 2-9 |
2 | Is the carbon being stored organic? | Add 1 to Risk Score | |
3 | Are conditions for methane production present (anaerobic conditions, lignin content)? | Add 1 to Risk Score | |
4 | Does this approach have a material risk of reversal due to natural disasters including, but not limited to, floods, storms, earthquakes, fires, etc.? | Add 1 to Risk Score | |
5 | Does this approach have a material risk of reversal due to human-induced events from outside actors, such as change in farming practices, change in ownership and management of project sites, or similar? | Add up to 2 to Risk Score | |
6 | **Applicable only for subsurface storage**: Is the carbon being stored with trapping mechanisms preventing reversals? (e.g., multiple confining layers, CO₂ dissolves or solidifies) | Minus 1 to Risk Score (unless 0) | |
7 | Is there 10+ years of monitoring and/or lab data demonstrating low project risk? | Minus up to 2 to Risk Score (unless 0) | |
8 | Does this pathway have a documented history of reversals in excess of proposed buffer pool size? | Add 2 to Risk Score | |
9 | Is there one or more project-specific factors that merit a high risk level? | Add up to 2 to Risk Score |
Risk Score Categories
Note the Risk Score at any step cannot be negative.
Where Reversals are not directly observable (as specified in the relevant Protocol), a Project’s Risk of Reversal is automatically deemed “No observable risk”, and no buffer contributions are required.
For other Projects, Risk of Reversal is determined based on the score of the risk assessment questionnaire, as follows:
Isometric's Uncertainty and Buffer Pool policies represent two mostly non-overlapping approaches for how Isometric plans to be conservative in how credits are quantified and to potentially insure against future events that may result in a Reversal. Specifically, in removal pathways that utilize large, open-system reservoirs (e.g., the ocean) where direct observation of a reversal is not feasible, Isometric's Uncertainty policy will generally result in a larger uncertainty discount22, and Isometric's Buffer Pool policy will generally result in a smaller Buffer Pool Size, or no Buffer Pool contribution. Conversely, in removal pathways that utilize closed-system reservoirs that are more straightforward to monitor, Isometric's Uncertainty policy will generally result in a smaller uncertainty discount, but the activity will be subject to a larger Buffer Pool Size. Below are two example scenarios that illustrate how and when these two policies are invoked.
Example 1: Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement
An OAE Project Proponent releases a known amount of alkalinity into the ocean. In accordance with the Protocol and PDD, the Project Proponent uses a model to estimate that the median CO2 uptake after a certain amount of time is 100 tonnes. In accordance with Isometric's Uncertainty policy, the Project Proponent reports that the 16th percentile of CO2 uptake outcomes is 15 tonnes below the median (resulting in a 15t uncertainty discount that is subtracted from the gross CO2 removed). The Project Proponent does not need to complete a risk of reversal questionnaire, as Reversals are not directly observable for OAE, and as such the Project risk level is determined as “No observable risk” (resulting in no buffer pool contribution).
Example 2: Bio-oil Production and Injection
A bio-oil production and injection Project Proponent produces 100 tonnes of bio-oil with a well-constrained GHG Assessment and counterfactuals (there is no uncertainty discount for the amount of CO2e removed because conservative parameters were used in the calculation). This bio-oil is then injected into an underground reservoir that is equipped with a suite of chemical sensors that can measure CO2 and methane. The corresponding PDD has provisions to continue monitoring for fugitive gases for 40 years after injection has concluded. The Project Proponent follows Isometric's guidance in answering the risk questionnaire and determines they have a Risk of Reversal that corresponds to Risk Level B (resulting in a 5% Buffer Pool Size).
https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg3/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGIII_Chapter12.pdf↩↩2
https://rmi.org/insight/scaling-technological-greenhouse-gas-removal-a-global-roadmap-to-2050/↩
UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC) commissioned report Assessment of Options to Reduce Emissions from Fossil Fuel Production and Fugitive Emissions↩
https://unfccc.int/process/parties-non-party-stakeholders/parties-convention-and-observer-states↩
http://www.geol.lsu.edu/jlorenzo/geophysics/uncertainties/Uncertaintiespart2.html#muldiv↩
Johansen, A.M., Evers, L. and Whiteley, N., 2010. Monte Carlo methods. International Encyclopedia of Education, pp.296-303. ↩
Section 4: Assessment Framework - Core Carbon Principles 2023, The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market ↩↩2
International Labour Organisation Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples↩
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 13 September 2007↩
A negative impact is any adverse effect from a particular action that leaves an individual or community worse off, (i.e. where given a choice between the status quo and their position after that action, the individual would strictly prefer the status quo). ↩
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights Reporting Framework with implementation guidance (2015); International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Guide to Human Rights Impact Assessment and Management (HRIAM), September 2011 ↩
FPIC must be obtained by following a suitable process. That process must identify the indigenous peoples concerned, document geographic and demographic mapping, involve a participatory communication approach which discloses project information transparently, reach consent, document any specific needs of indigenous peoples that must be included in the project, and include a feedback and complaints mechanism. ↩
ISO 14064-3:2019, 6.3.3 ↩
https://www.iso.org/sites/JCGM/GUM/JCGM100/C045315e-html/C045315e.html?csnumber=50461↩↩2
Databases such as Ecoinvent provide uncertainty factors, often based on a lognormal probability distribution, with a 95% confidence interval. The reported uncertainty accounts for systematic error, random error, and may also use a pedigree matrix to assign additional qualitative data quality impacts as an uncertainty value. These uncertainties are reported as a combined standard uncertainty. See details and examples for ecoinvent: https://ecoinvent.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/dataqualityguidelineecoinvent_3_20130506.pdf↩
"Uncertainty discount" is defined as the difference between the Conservative estimate of Removal, and the estimate of Removal in the absence of accounting for uncertainty ↩