Carbon credits: To certify, or not to certify?

Not all carbon credits are equal - so how do we know which ones truly deliver impact? Certification has long been the gold standard for ensuring climate integrity, but is it the whole story? 

First, what are carbon credits?

In the voluntary carbon market (VCM), one carbon credit represents one metric tonne of carbon dioxide (CO₂), or an equivalent amount of other greenhouse gases (CO₂e) - that has been reduced or removed from the atmosphere through a (typically certified) carbon project. 

1 carbon credit = 1 tonne of CO₂e reduced or removed from the atmosphere

• Different types of carbon credits

  1. Avoidance/Reduction - (e.g. protecting forests, clean cookstoves, renewable energy)
     
     

  2. Removal - (e.g. reforestation, soil carbon, direct air capture)

  3. A mix of the above - (e.g. Improved Forest Management) 
     

  Take a deeper look at these categories in our article: Deep Dive on Carbon Credits: Reductions vs. Removals

Why do we need them? 

Carbon credits are the financial mechanism that makes climate mitigation projects possible. They give project developers the opportunity to implement, scale, and manage projects that lead to real, measurable climate impact.

At the same time, they give businesses a way to take responsibility for their ongoing or historical emissions by financing climate solutions beyond their own operations - especially when full decarbonization isn't yet possible.

Carbon credits are an enabler of action. 

How does it work? 

Projects that generate carbon credits include a wide variety of activities - such as Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation (ARR), Biochar, Direct Air Capture and Storage (DACCS), and Improved Forest Management (IFM) - to mention a few. 

What these projects have in common is that they….

1. …. initiate activities to reduce and/or remove carbon from the atmosphere. 

2. …. must prove that their climate impact is real, accurately quantified and additional - meaning that they deliver a benefit that would not have happened without carbon revenue. 

Certification is the most widely used method to demonstrate these qualities - drawing on 20+ years of carbon market experience and methods. But with new technologies reshaping how we measure and monitor emissions - will this change? 

• The certification process step-by-step

  The certification process is overseen by the crediting program, which provides standards, methodologies, public registries and strict procedures for third-party validation and verification. Everything, to ensure that the projects meet strict quality criteria. 
  
  While certification paths vary depending on the project type and standard, the typical process (especially for forestry projects) includes the following steps:
  

  1. Project design: The project developer submits a detailed plan that outlines how carbon will be removed or reduced through the project - like planting a forest, or improving forest management.
     
     

  2. Third-party validation: Independent auditors (often referred to as validation and verification bodies or VVB’s) assess whether the project plan meets scientific and methodological requirements and is likely to result in real, additional climate benefits. 

  3. Monitoring and reporting: The project is monitored to track the actual carbon sequestration or emissions reductions over time. Data is continuously gathered through satellite monitoring, field measurements, and other reporting tools. 
     
     

  4. Verification & issuance of carbon credits: Third party auditors (VVBs) return periodically to confirm whether the claimed carbon reductions and/or removals align with the project plan. If successfully validated, monitored and verified, the crediting program can issue carbon credits, which are recorded in a public registry for sale and retirement.

Are all projects certified? 

In the voluntary carbon market (VCM), certification is not legally required, but in practice, most credits are certified through established crediting programs. 

Why certification matters: 

• Buyers (companies, individuals, investors) want assurance that the emission reductions or removals are real, measurable and additional.

• Crediting programs, such as The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) by Verra or the Gold Standard, provide the methodologies, standards and verification procedures to oversee project integrity.

• Without certification, credits are generally considered less trustworthy and often harder to sell.

In other words: certification isn’t mandatory, but it is essential for trust and market acceptance.

Certified carbon credits are not just an enabler of action - they are proof of action. 

So - To certify or not to certify?

In today’s voluntary carbon market, certification is a powerful tool. It helps build trust, channel funding, and ensure that climate action is real, measurable, and meaningful. But certification is not the only measure of value.

Some impactful climate activities - especially in regions with unique ecological or social conditions - still lack methodologies that reflect their realities (for instance the restoration of boreal peatlands). Others face barriers because the frameworks haven’t caught up with innovation on the ground. That doesn’t mean the work isn’t worthwhile. It means the system is still evolving.

At the same time, technology is rapidly reshaping what’s possible. Where verification once relied on paperwork and field visits, we’re now entering an era of satellite monitoring, AI-driven data analysis, and real-time tracking. These advances are making verification more accessible, scalable, and transparent.

As the world moves toward a more regulated and integrated carbon market, that evolution is not only welcome - it’s essential. But regulation must go hand-in-hand with innovation, so that integrity doesn’t come at the cost of inclusion or progress.

In the end, certification remains the gold standard for credibility - but it’s the broader ecosystem of action, trust, and technological progress that will define the future of carbon markets.

At Noora, we believe the future of carbon markets lies in combining the rigor of certification with the power of technology. By layering satellite monitoring, advanced data tools, and transparent reporting on top of certified standards, we’re building a deeper, more dynamic understanding of how our projects perform over time. This isn’t just about issuing credits - it’s about creating visibility, trust, and impact you can actually see. 

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Noora empowers businesses to take meaningful climate action through certified carbon credits from Nordic forests. By partnering with local forest owners and using advanced monitoring technology, we help protect and enhance nature’s role in removing CO₂ from the atmosphere - while contributing to local environmental responsibility and our shared, global climate goals.

Are you a forest owner interested in generating carbon income, or a business looking to make a measurable impact on climate? Get in touch with us to learn more! 

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