Frequently asked questions

Carbon offsetting means compensating for your emissions by supporting verified projects that reduce or remove an equivalent amount of CO₂ elsewhere. Offsets are calculated in tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). When you buy a credit, it represents one tonne of carbon dioxide avoided or removed. Once purchased, that credit is retired, ensuring it cannot be reused or resold. Offsetting should complement your direct emissions reductions, not replace them. First reduce where possible, then offset the remainder.

A carbon credit represents one tonne of carbon dioxide avoided or removed through an audited and verified project. When you purchase and retire a credit, you can legitimately claim that tonne as an offset against your own emissions.

Carbon credit vintages refer to the specific year in which the emissions reductions being traded were achieved at the project. This is important to prevent double counting and fraudulent claims about being carbon neutral.

Global warming is now accepted as one of the most serious threats to the future of all people on the planet. The first step is to reduce energy use. Cutting down how much energy you use will reduce the greenhouse gases you emit. When you can't easily cut your energy use any further, making a carbon offset contribution allows Credible Carbon to make carbon savings in Africa that help compensate for your remaining emissions.

No. The solutions to climate change will necessarily be political, social and economic. But markets provide an instrument to encourage action once these changes have happened. Carbon offsetting should be used in combination with taxation, regulation and increasing awareness. It is not a substitute for reducing emissions directly.

Credible Carbon projects are audited against the Credible Carbon Standard and must be calculated using one of our independently reviewed methodologies. All projects result in a quantifiable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and in poverty alleviation. Investors are provided with real-time information on how money has been spent and on project progress.

Credible Carbon has four approved methodologies: CC-M001-I (Inorganic Waste Recycling), CC-M001-O (Organic Waste Landfill Diversion), CC-M002-S (Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency), and CC-M003-L (Land, Soil Carbon and Ecosystem Restoration). They are free to use, publicly available, and independently reviewed. View all four methodologies.

Yes. Credible Carbon is registered in South Africa and founded here, but our project scope covers Sub-Saharan Africa — we currently have projects in South Africa and Namibia. All projects aim to be locally relevant, and the benefits stay in Africa rather than being transferred to industrialised countries. This matters given Africa's disproportionate exposure to the impacts of climate change.

Credible Carbon maintains an updated record of what projects receive support, how each project is developing, and what has been achieved. The project baseline, which records how much greenhouse gas is emitted before the Credible Carbon investment, is prepared at the start of the project and verified in an independent audit.

The price of a carbon offset is based on the marginal abatement cost: the cost of reducing an equivalent amount of carbon in a given project. This differs across projects depending on their specific activities. Credible Carbon seeks projects that have a significant impact on poverty and emissions at a reasonable cost, and acknowledges its need to be cost-competitive relative to the global emissions reduction market.

Use the Carbon Calculator on the Credible Carbon website. It will give you the amount of carbon emitted by your current activities at home, during personal travel, in your office building or for business trips. Credible Carbon uses publicly available conversion figures to translate energy use from different fuel sources into CO₂ emissions.

You can choose which of Credible Carbon's projects you would like to contribute to. Because of our strict pro-poor and real emission reduction stance, the Credible Carbon project portfolio is curated rather than large. This is part of the commitment to being credible. Once you have selected a project, you can choose to receive project updates to understand the difference your investment has made.

Investment in renewable technologies and emission reduction projects in developing countries typically has a far greater impact than the same investment in industrialised countries, where things are more expensive to change. By investing in African projects, Credible Carbon assists Africa to follow a development path that does not replicate the high-emission development of industrialised nations.

All projects must be AMPED: Additional, Measurable, Permanent, and supported by Excellent Data. Projects must be based in Sub-Saharan Africa, produce a minimum of 1,000 tCO₂ per year, and have social impact or poverty alleviation benefits. Land-based projects must commit to maintaining carbon stocks for a minimum of 30 years. Each project type must comply with one of our four approved methodologies.

No. Credible Carbon does not guarantee that registered credits will be sold. All sales depend on market demand and buyer requirements. Credible Carbon works to connect projects with buyers but cannot guarantee outcomes.

No. Projects registered with Credible Carbon may not register the same emission reductions with another registry without prior written approval. This prevents double-counting and protects the integrity of the credits.

Yes. All registered projects are subject to independent third-party verification, typically at least every three years, to confirm emission reductions and ongoing compliance with Credible Carbon standards.