Understanding Carbon Offsets
Download the Carbon Offset Guide (EN)

Program Administration and Authority

Kyoto offset mechanisms:

Name of ProgramWho Administers?Who Validates/ Verifies?Who Approves?Name of Registry
Clean Development MechanismUNFCCC SecretariatDesignated Operational Entities (DOEs)CDM Executive BoardCDM Registry

Voluntary programs:

Name of ProgramWho Administers?Who Validates/ Verifies?Who Approves?Name of Registry
American Carbon RegistryWinrock, ACR DirectrorACR approved verifiers or verifiers approved under CDM, JI, VCS and the Cli-mate Action Reserve. Start-ing 10 2010, verifiers must be ANSI certified. ACR approved verifiers.American Carbon Registry
Climate Action ReserveBoard of DirectorsANSI-accredited independent verifiers approved by the Reserve.State of California and the Climate Action ReserveClimate Action Reserve administered by APX Inc.
Gold StandardGold Standard Foundation, GS Secretariat, Foundation Board, GS Technical Advisory Committee (GS TAC), GS NGO SupportersDOEsGS TAC, GS Secretariat, GS NGO SupportersThe Gold Standard VER Registry administered by APX Inc.
Verified Carbon StandardVerra Board of DirectorsAccredited VCS auditorsAccredited VCS auditorsLaunched 3/17/09 the VCS Project Database and approved registries:

- APX Inc.

- Markit Environmental Registry
Plan VivoPlan Vivo FoundationPlan Vivo FoundationPlan Vivo FoundationPlan Vivo registry administered by Markit.
Social Carbon MethodologyEcológica Institute (Brazil)Certifying Entities: DOEs, auditors approved by SCM, and auditors that have ‘proven experience in the validation/verification of projects […]’Certifying EntitiesSocial Carbon Registry administered by Markit