The markets to sell emission into can be split into ‘compliance’ and ‘voluntary’. Complaince covers the CDM and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Voluntary is when individuals, organisations or companies reduce their own emissions but then ‘offset’ any remaining emissions.

Some projects, like stove projects, have benefits for society other than reducing greenhouse gases. It is right that these benefits should be marketed and paid for.

Social Carbon is an international standard for sustainability. It provides a full endorsement of the social aspects of the project and can be very helpful if selling CERs into the voluntary market place.

Social Carbon is the only standard relating to greenhouse gas reducing projects that has been developed in the south. Six factors are considered annually: biodiversity, human, natural, social, carbon and financial. For more information www.socialcarbon.org or please contact us.