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This document describes the requirements that apply to all entities seeking certification during calendar year 2024 for their 2023 emissions.</em><em>‍</em>‍<em></em></p></div><div id="w-node-e5502905-6844-3854-916d-031ad79a6fe1-0a8002ae" class="why-cn-cards_item margin-medium margin-horizontal margin-0"><div class="why-cn-cards_content"><p class="mb-16"><em>Beginning in 2025, companies will certify according to The Climate Label 2025 Standard, which is available </em><a href="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5f0c587ab32ca0ef2d078a87/66f201a4b3af9b7f2ed135c1_TheClimateLabel-2025Certification%20Standard.pdf" class="text-style-link"><em>here</em></a><em>. The 2025 Standard will replace the 2024 Climate Neutral Certified Standard and will apply to all companies seeking certification in 2025. To learn more, please visit </em><a href="/2025" class="text-style-link"><em>changeclimate.org/2025</em></a><em>.</em></p></div></div><div class="margin-top margin-medium"><p class="mb-16"><em></em><em>‍</em>‍<em>Last updated: 24 September 2024<br/><br/>To submit feedback on this Standard please send an email to: </em><a href="#"><em class="text-style-link">standards-input@changeclimate.org</em></a></p></div></div></div></div><main class="container"><div class="flex-between align-top"><div class="methodology-spacer tablet-hide"></div><div class="methodology-wrapper"><div id="01-eligibility" class="section_impact"><div class="methodology-inner"><div class="brands-colored-divider teal"></div><h2 class="standards-h2"><span class="h3-outline">01</span> <strong>Eligibility</strong></h2><h3 class="standards-h2-subhead"><strong>Eligible Certifying Entities</strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>The Climate Neutral Certified Standard represents a leading approach to climate action by consumer goods and business services companies. Companies can seek certification of a corporate entity, subsidiary, or brand, but not of individual products or services. To protect the integrity and reputation of the Climate Neutral Certification and marks, companies within sectors that appear on the <a href="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5f0c587ab32ca0ef2d078a87/6590a75055c8f1ffad45c08e_Change%20Climate%20Restricted%20Sectors.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>Restrictions on Eligibility for Certification</strong></a> list are ineligible for Climate Neutral Certification.</p><p>Although the focus of Climate Neutral Certification is corporate brands, non-brand entities, such as events or film projects, may be eligible to achieve certification if they align with the mission and goals of The Change Climate Project (TCCP), which administers the Climate Neutral Certified Standard.</p></div></div></div><section id="02-measurement" class="section_impact"><div class="methodology-inner"><div class="brands-colored-divider gold"></div><h2 class="standards-h2"><span class="h3-outline">02</span> <strong>Measurement</strong></h2><h3 class="standards-h2-subhead"><strong>Requirements for Greenhouse Gas Measurement</strong></h3><h3 class="standards-h3"><strong>a. Measurement Boundaries</strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>Entities seeking certification in 2024 are required to count their cradle-to-customer emissions from the full calendar year 2023, or an overlapping full fiscal year. This includes emissions related to all products, services, and business activities. Fiscal year data can be used as long as six or more months overlap with calendar year 2023. Measurement boundaries are based on the <a href="https://ghgprotocol.org/" target="_blank">Greenhouse Gas Protocol</a> and include all of Scope 1 emissions, all of Scope 2 emissions, and 8 out of the 15 categories of Scope 3 emissions, as shown below.</p></div></div><div class="table-wrapper"><div class="margin-bottom margin-medium"><h4>Table 1: <strong>Climate Neutral Certified measurement boundary requirements</strong></h4></div><div class="standards-table_2col"><div><h6 class="mb-0 text-color__dark-gray">scope 1</h6><div class="divider mt-8"></div><h5>Direct Emissions</h5><ul role="list" class="chart-list"><li class="list-item-small">Fossil fuels used at your facilities</li><li class="list-item-small">Fuel consumed by your vehicles</li></ul></div><div><h6 class="mb-0 text-color__dark-gray">scope 2</h6><div class="divider mt-8"></div><h5>Indirect Emissions</h5><ul role="list" class="chart-list"><li class="list-item-small">Electricity used at your facilities</li><li class="list-item-small">Steam bought and used at your facilities</li></ul></div></div><div class="margin-top margin-medium2"><div class="standards-table_content-group"><h6 class="mb-0 text-color__dark-gray">scope 3</h6><div class="divider mt-8"></div><div class="standards-table_2col"><div class="flex-expand"><h5>Supply Chain Emissions</h5><ul role="list" class="unordered-list"><li class="list-item-small"><span class="numbered">3.1</span>Purchased goods and services</li><li class="list-item-small"><span class="numbered">3.2</span>Capital goods</li><li class="list-item-small w-clearfix"><span class="numbered float-left">3.3</span>Upstream emissions from fuel and energy</li><li class="list-item-small w-clearfix"><span class="numbered float-left">3.4</span>Upstream transportation and distribution</li><li class="list-item-small"><span class="numbered">3.5</span>Waste from operations</li><li class="list-item-small"><span class="numbered">3.6</span>Business travel</li><li class="list-item-small"><span class="numbered">3.7</span>Employee commuting</li><li class="list-item-small w-clearfix"><span class="numbered float-left">3.9</span>Downstream transportation and distribution</li></ul></div><div class="flex-expand"><h5>Not Included in Certification:</h5><ul role="list" class="unordered-list opacity-60"><li class="list-item-small"><span class="numbered">3.8</span>Upstream leased assets</li><li class="list-item-small"><span class="numbered">3.10</span>Processing of sold products</li><li class="list-item-small"><span class="numbered">3.11</span>Use of sold products</li><li class="list-item-small w-clearfix"><span class="numbered float-left">3.12</span>End-of-life treatment of sold products</li><li class="list-item-small"><span class="numbered">3.13</span>Downstream leased assets</li><li class="list-item-small"><span class="numbered">3.14</span>Franchises</li><li class="list-item-small"><span class="numbered">3.15</span>Investments*</li></ul></div></div></div></div><p class="table-label _2-col-flex">Table 1</p></div><div class="methodology-inner"><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>*<strong> Required for Finance and Investment Firms </strong>- Certifying entities with significant financial holdings must also measure Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scope 3.15 emissions. Institutions assumed to have significant financial holdings include asset management/asset owners, retail and commercial banks, insurance companies (when functioning as asset managers), real estate investment trusts (REITs), and companies with at least 5% of revenue associated with these activities. </p></div></div><div class="methodology-inner"><h3 class="standards-h3"><strong>b. Data Requirements</strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p><strong>Use of verifiable activity data vs. estimated data</strong>: Certifying entities are <em>strongly encouraged</em> to provide actual metered or billed data, rather than modeled estimates, for Scopes 1 & 2. </p><p><strong>Use of activity data</strong>: Certifying entities are <em>strongly encouraged</em> to use activity data or physical data for emissions Scopes & Categories where emissions are equal to or more than 5% of the total footprint. Companies with science-aligned reduction targets are required to use activity data or physical data (i.e. kWh, not dollars spent on electricity) for Scopes 1 & 2 starting in their second annual certification year.</p></div></div><div class="methodology-inner"><h3 class="standards-h3"><strong>c. GHG Measurement and Verification</strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>While all GHG inventory submissions must follow the boundaries defined in Table 1, how you measure your emissions depends on your annual revenues. In cases where multiple subsidiary brands within a larger company seek to achieve certification, the combined revenue of all certified entities will be used to determine certification requirements.</p><p>Once GHG inventory has been completed, our staff will review your submission and evaluate it for compliance with the Standard.</p></div></div><div class="table-wrapper"><div class="table-content"><h4>Table 2: Verification Requirements </h4><div class="margin-top margin-small"><h5>Small brands: <br/>2023 revenues below $5 million</h5><p id="w-node-_5740c431-5203-fd85-e20a-232eadd71660-0a8002ae" class="p-small">Estimate your emissions using the Business Emissions Evaluator (BEE) or equivalent pre-approved tool using sector, geography, financial, and other firmographic data.</p><div class="divider mt-8"></div><div class="chart__2-col-flex justify-apart tablet-vertical"><div class="flex-expand"><div class="p-small mb-16 w-richtext"><p><strong><em>If you measure your emissions using the BEE, here’s what you need to submit:</em></strong></p><p>‍</p><p>A complete inventory with attestation. (No third party verification required.)</p></div></div><div class="flex-spacer tablet-hide"></div><div class="flex-expand"><div class="p-small w-richtext"><p><strong><em>If you don’t use the BEE, here’s what you need to submit:</em></strong></p><p>‍</p><p>A complete inventory with attestation. (No third party verification required.)</p></div></div></div></div><div><h5>Medium brands:<br/>2023 revenues $5-100 million</h5><p class="p-small">Prepare a measurement report, detailing total emissions by scope and category, generated using the Business Emissions Evaluator (BEE), a third-party calculator, or an internally-built tool, as long as it aligns to the GHG Protocol and meets measurement boundary requirements. Third party verification is not required.</p><div class="divider mt-8"></div><div class="chart__2-col-flex justify-apart tablet-vertical"><div class="flex-expand"><div class="p-small mb-16 w-richtext"><p><strong><em>If you measure your emissions using the BEE, here’s what you need to submit:</em></strong></p><p>‍</p><p>1) A complete measurement report from the BEE.</p><p>‍</p><p>2) A ‘good faith’ attestation confirming the accuracy and completeness of GHG inventory and underlying data</p></div></div><div class="flex-spacer tablet-hide"></div><div class="flex-expand"><div class="p-small w-richtext"><p><strong><em>If you don’t use the BEE, here’s what you need to submit:</em></strong></p><p>‍</p><p>1) A complete measurement report that clearly describes your methodology, including: total Scope 1-3 emissions, reported in tCO2e and broken down by GHG Protocol categories, an index of all operational data used, citations for each GHG emission factor applied, description of boundaries, assumptions, and materiality threshold applied. </p><p>‍</p><p>2) A ‘good faith’ attestation confirming the accuracy and completeness of GHG inventory and underlying data.</p><p>‍</p></div></div></div></div><div><h5>Large brands:<br/>2023 revenues above $100 million</h5><p id="w-node-_5740c431-5203-fd85-e20a-232eadd71668-0a8002ae" class="p-small">Prepare a measurement report, detailing total emissions by scope and category, can be generated using the Business Emissions Evaluator (BEE), a third-party calculator, or an internally-built tool, as long as it aligns to the GHG Protocol and meets measurement boundary requirements. A third-party verifier must review the inventory (see below).</p><div class="divider mt-8"></div><div class="chart__2-col-flex justify-apart tablet-vertical"><div class="flex-expand"><div class="p-small mb-16 w-richtext"><p><strong><em>If you measure your emissions using the BEE, here’s what you need to submit:</em></strong></p><p>1) A complete measurement report from the BEE.</p><p>‍</p><p>2) A ‘good faith’ attestation confirming the accuracy and completeness of GHG inventory and underlying data.</p><p>‍</p><p> 3) A third party verification report that clearly verifies your data inputs and conforms to the “Requirements for Third-party Verification” section below. </p></div></div><div class="flex-spacer tablet-hide"></div><div class="flex-expand"><div class="p-small w-richtext"><p><strong><em>If you don’t use the BEE, here’s what you need to submit:</em></strong></p><p>‍</p><p>1) A complete measurement report that clearly describes your methodology, including: total Scope 1-3 emissions, reported in tCO2e and broken down by GHG Protocol categories, an index of all operational data used, citations for each GHG emission factor applied, description of boundaries, assumptions, and materiality threshold applied.</p><p>‍</p><p>2) A third party verification report that verifies your data inputs AND methodology, and conforms to the “Requirements for Third-party Verification” section below.</p></div></div></div></div></div><p class="table-label _2-col-flex">Table 2</p></div><div class="methodology-inner"><h3 class="standards-h3"><strong>d. Requirements for Third-party Verification </strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>‍<strong>All verification reports should follow these five common principles of carbon footprint verification: </strong>relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, and accuracy. </p><p>Verifications must conform to one of these standards: ISO 14064-3, ISAE3000, ISAE 3410, or Corporate GHG verification guidelines from ERT. Verification reports must specify the level of assurance provided by the report as either limited or reasonable. </p><p>Third-party verifiers (e.g. environmental auditors or consultants) must be able to demonstrate the following:</p><ul role="list"><li>At least five years of corporate history working in carbon accounting and/or lifecycle analysis at product and company levels, with at least 25 documented client engagements involving corporate or product level footprints. </li></ul><ul role="list"><li>At least five years of corporate history auditing and/or verifying corporate GHG footprints of companies with over $100 million in annual revenue.</li></ul><ul role="list"><li>Ability to demonstrate independent control and ownership from the company under review to avoid any conflicts of interest. </li></ul><ul role="list"><li>Ability to act as an unbiased third party in the verification process. </li></ul><ul role="list"><li>At least five years of corporate history with one or more of the third-party verification standards referenced in this section 2(d).</li></ul></div></div><div class="methodology-inner"><h3 class="standards-h3"><strong>e. Counting Renewable Energy Purchases</strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>Energy Attribute Certificates (such as RECs and GOs) that are bundled or unbundled with energy purchases may be used to make “market-based” adjustments to the total emissions from your electricity consumption. </p><p>The Standard requires that vintages of any Energy Attribute Certificates used for compliance be purchased within the certification year or one year prior. For example, when considering 2023 Scope 2 emissions, you must purchase RECs or GOs with a vintage of 2022 or later. All RECs and GOs used for compliance must also take place on the same grid subregion as your Scope 2 electricity consumption.</p><p>If there is a question about the eligibility of renewable energy instruments in the case of your pending certification, TCCP certifiers will reference the GHG Protocol guidance.</p></div></div><div class="methodology-inner"><h3 class="standards-h3"><strong>f. Corrections to Measurement Reports</strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>In the case of errors or omissions that exceed a 5% materiality threshold from a prior submission, the certified entity is required to restate emissions from the affected year(s). In the case of lower restated emissions, companies may bank excess carbon credits to be used for future years of Climate Neutral Certification, provided that the credits meet current requirements of the Standard. In the case of higher restated emissions, companies are encouraged to cover any carbon credit purchase deficits.</p></div></div></section><section id="03-reductions" class="section_impact"><div class="methodology-inner"><div class="brands-colored-divider green"></div><h2 class="standards-h2"><span class="h3-outline">03</span> <strong>Reductions</strong></h2><div class="methodology-inner"><h3 class="standards-h2-subhead"><strong>Requirements for Investing in Value Chain Reductions</strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>Certifying entities are required to create a Reduction Action Plan using Change Climate’s template that shows progress toward reducing emissions from products and services. Action plans must include a minimum of two measures that will reduce emissions within the next 12-24 months. If a certifying entity has annual revenues over $5 million, it must identify at least one reduction measure that applies to Scope 3 emissions. To recertify, reduction plans must include reports on progress made toward prior years’ reduction actions.<br/></p></div><h3 class="standards-h3"><strong>a. Target Setting Requirements </strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>If the certifying entity has over $100 million in annual revenues, it is required to create a science-aligned reduction target for 2030. This target applies to all emissions included in Table 1. The target can be a default target of 50% absolute reductions based on a 2023 emissions baseline, a target approved under the <a href="http://www.sciencebasedtargets.org" target="_blank">Science-based Targets Initiative</a>, or a well documented science-aligned target that is sector specific. Entities with less than $100 million in annual revenues are <em>strongly encouraged</em> to set 2030 science-aligned targets. <br/></p><p>In cases where multiple subsidiary brands within a larger company seek to achieve certification, TCCP certifiers will use the combined revenue of all certified brands to determine certification requirements. </p></div></div><div class="methodology-inner"><h3 class="standards-h3"><strong>b. Checkpoint Year Requirements</strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>Success toward reduction actions and science-aligned targets will be closely evaluated in Checkpoint Years set in 2025 and 2028. Certified entities will be required to evaluate and report on progress towards the following goals:</p><h5>Checkpoint Year 2025 Goals: </h5><ul role="list"><li>All RAPs set through 2023 should be complete.</li><li>Clearly report on progress toward targeted year-over-year emissions reductions. </li><li>You should be roughly 50% toward completing 2030 target requirements, if applicable.* </li></ul><h5>Checkpoint Year 2028 Goals: </h5><ul role="list"><li>All RAPs established through 2026 should be complete.</li><li>You should be roughly 80% toward completing 2030 target requirements, if applicable.* </li></ul><p>* Failure to match exact Checkpoint Year reduction plan goals may be explained if you can demonstrate that you have significant pending reduction actions, or that you are following a separate but clear reduction plan with custom baseline or target years.</p></div></div></div></section><section id="04-compensation" class="section_impact"><div class="methodology-inner"><div class="brands-colored-divider terracotta"></div><h2 class="standards-h2"><span class="h3-outline">04</span> <strong>Compensation</strong></h2><h3 class="standards-h2-subhead"><strong>Requirements for GHG Mitigation Beyond the Value Chain</strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>Certifying entities are required to contribute to greenhouse gas mitigation projects at a level proportional to their measured emissions (all product, services, and operations) by making investments beyond the value chain. Carbon inventories may be adjusted with clean energy purchases made via eligible Energy Attribute Certificates such as RECs or GOs. All carbon credits and/or EACs must meet the following criteria:</p></div></div><div class="methodology-inner"><h3 class="standards-h3"><strong>a. Third-party Verification</strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>Carbon credits must be verified according to one of the following standards: Gold Standard, Verified Carbon Standard, Climate Action Reserve, American Carbon Registry, or European Biochar Certificate.</p></div></div><div class="methodology-inner"><h3 class="standards-h3"><strong>b. Vintage Year Restriction</strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>With the exception of forestry and land-use, all carbon credits must represent avoided emissions or removals from within the four years up to and including the emissions year. For companies getting certified in 2024 for a 2023 emissions footprint, this includes any vintage year from 2020 through 2023. For forestry and land-use projects, all credits must represent emission reductions from within the seven years up to and including the emissions year, which includes any vintage year from 2017 through 2023. There are no requirements for project start dates as long as the credits meet the vintage year requirement.<br/></p></div></div><div class="methodology-inner"><h3 class="standards-h3"><strong>c. Portfolio Requirements</strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>All carbon credit purchases must be from the approved project categories and types in Table 4. Certifying entities are encouraged, but not required, to follow the Suggested Portfolio Allocation Targets.<br/></p></div></div><div class="section_impact-subsection"><div class="table-wrapper"><div class="table-content"><h4>Table 3: Eligible Carbon Credit Types and Categories</h4><div class="_3-col-flex-table"><div class="tablerow header-row"><div class="col-1"><h5>Project Category</h5></div><div class="col-2"><h5>Project Type</h5></div><div class="col-3"><h5>Suggested Portfolio Allocation Targets</h5></div></div><div class="tablerow"><div class="col-1"><div class="mb-16 mobile-hide">Emissions Removed or Avoided From Nature</div><h5 class="chart-mobile-header mb-16">Avoided Emissions from Energy and Industry</h5></div><div class="col-2"><h6 class="chart-mobile-header">Project Type</h6><ul role="list" class="chart-list p-small"><li class="list-item-p"><strong>Agriculture & Grasslands: </strong>e.g. avoided ecosystem conversion, grassland & rangeland management, soil carbon, biochar</li><li class="list-item-p"><strong>Blue Carbon:</strong> e.g. mangroves, coastal conservation, wetland & seagrass restoration</li><li class="list-item-p"><strong>Forestry: </strong>e.g. afforestation, avoided deforestation, improved forest management, peatland restoration, REDD+, reforestation</li></ul></div><div class="col-3"><h6 class="chart-mobile-header">Suggested Portfolio Allocation Targets</h6><div class="mb-16">40% or more</div></div></div><div class="tablerow"><div class="col-1"><div class="mb-16 mobile-hide">Emissions Avoided from Energy and Industry</div><h5 class="chart-mobile-header mb-16">Emissions Avoided or Removed From Nature</h5></div><div class="col-2"><h6 class="chart-mobile-header">Project Type</h6><ul role="list" class="chart-list p-small"><li class="list-item-p"><strong>Chemical / Industrial: </strong>e.g. manufacturing, high-GWP gas capture, N2O abatement</li><li class="list-item-p"><strong>Household & Community: </strong>e.g. cookstoves, composting, household energy efficiency, water filtration</li><li class="list-item-p"><strong>Renewable Energy: </strong>e.g. biomass, geothermal, small-scale hydropower*, solar, wind</li><li class="list-item-p"><strong>Transportation: </strong>e.g. electric vehicles</li></ul></div><div class="col-3"><h6 class="chart-mobile-header">Suggested Portfolio Allocation Targets</h6><div class="mb-16">60% or less</div></div></div><div class="tablerow"><div class="col-1"><div class="mb-16 mobile-hide">Carbon Dioxide Removals (CDR)**</div><h5 class="chart-mobile-header mb-16">Engineered Removals</h5></div><div class="col-2"><h6 class="chart-mobile-header">Project Type</h6><ul role="list" class="chart-list p-small"><li class="list-item-p"><strong>Engineered Removals: </strong>e.g. direct air carbon capture</li><li class="list-item-p"><strong>Open System Carbon Removals: </strong>e.g. oceans, mineralization</li></ul></div><div class="col-3"><h6 class="chart-mobile-header">Suggested Portfolio Allocation Targets</h6><div class="mb-16">Up to 10%</div></div></div><div class="tablerow last-row"><div class="col-1"><div class="mb-16 mobile-hide">Excluded Project Types</div><h5 class="chart-mobile-header mb-16">Excluded Project Types</h5></div><div class="col-2"><h6 class="chart-mobile-header">Project Type</h6><ul role="list" class="chart-list opacity-60 p-small"><li class="list-item-p">HFC-23 Destruction<br/></li><li class="list-item-p">Large-scale Energy Efficiency in non-LDCs***</li><li class="list-item-p">Large-scale Hydro</li><li class="list-item-p">Tokenized credits </li></ul></div><div class="col-3"><h6 class="chart-mobile-header">Suggested Portfolio Allocation Targets</h6><div class="mb-16">n/a (not allowed)</div></div></div></div><p class="table-label">Table 3</p></div></div><div class="methodology-inner"><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>* “Small-scale" follows UN CDM definitions (i.e., < 15MW for renewables and < 60 GWh in annual improvements from energy efficiency)</p><p>** Carbon Dioxide Removals apply to new project types where methodologies have not yet been developed, so verification is not possible. </p><p>*** A list of the UN’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs) can be found <a href="https://unctad.org/topic/least-developed-countries/list" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><h5>Open Allocation for Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Credits:</h5><p>Up to 10% of the carbon credit portfolio may consist of CDR credits that are not verified under one or more of the standards listed in 2(a). Credits must be issued & retired in order to count toward certification.</p><p>In addition to meeting all project documentation requirements outlined in section D, you must submit methodology documents for CDR projects for the credits to be eligible for certification. </p></div></div><div class="methodology-inner"><h3 class="standards-h3"><strong>d. Requirements for Procuring and Documenting Carbon Credit and Clean Energy Purchases</strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>Beyond value chain mitigation may be conducted with carbon credits and clean energy purchases from any provider, as long as the instruments meet the requirements of these standards.<br/></p><p>All carbon credit purchases must be substantiated with an attestation form signed by the provider that contains the following information:</p></div></div><div class="table-wrapper"><div class="margin-bottom margin-small"><h4><strong>Table 4.1: Required Carbon Credit Purchase Details</strong></h4></div><div class="chart__2-2"><div class="max-width-128"><p class="p-small">Project Name</p><h5 class="mt-4">e.g. Honduras Hydro</h5></div><div class="max-width-128"><p class="p-small">Project Type</p><h5 class="mt-4">Small Hydro</h5></div><div class="max-width-128"><p class="p-small"># of Credits Purchased</p><h5 class="mt-4">30,000</h5></div><div class="max-width-128"><p class="p-small">Vintage Year </p><h5 class="mt-4">2020</h5></div><div class="max-width-128 mb-32"><p class="p-small">Verification Standard</p><h5 class="mt-4">VCS</h5></div><div class="max-width-128 mb-32"><p class="p-small">Project ID</p><h5 class="mt-4">VCS1234</h5></div><div class="max-width-128 mb-32"><p class="p-small">Project Location</p><h5 class="mt-4">Honduras</h5></div><div class="max-width-128 mb-32"><p class="p-small">Seller</p><h5 class="mt-4">Carbon Broker</h5></div><div class="max-width-128 mb-32"><p class="p-small">Price Per Tonne</p><h5 class="mt-4">$10.00</h5></div></div><p class="table-label">Table 4.1</p></div><div class="methodology-inner"><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>This attestation form serves as a proof of purchase and retirement, and provides the information needed to confirm that the credits meet the requirements of the Standard. In addition (or in the event that a credit attestation form is unavailable), you may provide the following for all carbon credits that you purchase:<br/></p><ul role="list"><li>Registry report (via hyperlink or screenshot) showing carbon credits retired on your behalf, plus a report of the average price paid per credit<br/></li></ul><p>OR<br/></p><ul role="list"><li>Fully executed purchase contract, payment receipt for credits purchased, and a letter attesting that they were retired on your behalf. A valid purchase contract must indicate either (a) that the certifying entity has completed a purchase of all required carbon credits or (b) has a contractual obligation to complete the purchase of all required credits within 12 months. Installment purchases should be spaced at least quarterly and weighted evenly across the 12 month period.</li></ul></div></div><div class="methodology-inner"><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>Purchases of clean energy must be substantiated with the following information:</p></div></div><div class="table-wrapper"><div class="margin-bottom margin-small"><h4><strong>Table 4.2: Required Clean Energy Purchase Details</strong></h4></div><div class="chart__2-2"><div class="max-width-176"><p class="p-small">Type of contractual instrument</p><h5 class="mt-4">e.g. Renewable Energy Certificate (REC)</h5></div><div class="max-width-208"><p class="p-small">Quantity and units purchased</p><h5 class="mt-4">5,000 MWh</h5></div><div class="max-width-208"><p class="p-small">Country where renewable energy was generated</p><h5 class="mt-4">United States</h5></div></div><p class="table-label">Table 4.2</p></div><div class="methodology-inner"><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>In addition, you must provide at least one of the following for every clean energy purchase: contract attestation document, certificate, and/or payment receipt. </p></div></div></div></section><section id="05-disclosure" class="section_impact"><div class="methodology-inner"><div class="brands-colored-divider teal"></div><h3><span class="h3-outline">05</span><strong> Disclosure</strong></h3><h3 class="standards-h2-subhead"><strong>Requirements for Information Disclosure</strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>The Standard requires that companies with active certifications publicly disclose the following information on the Brand Profile Directory on the Change Climate website: </p><ol role="list"><li>Total annual GHG footprints calculated broken down by Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions</li><li>For recertifying entities, total annual emissions intensity for prior certification years, beginning with 2023 certifications, including any emissions corrections/adjustments. Reporting of historical absolute emissions by Scope is also strongly encouraged</li><li>Total annual investment (in USD) in carbon removal and avoidance credits as well as the project types supported </li><li>Categories of certified products and/or services</li><li>Summary of reduction action plans and science aligned targets (if set)</li><li>Progress toward past reduction action plans </li></ol></div></div></section><section id="06-advocacy" class="section_impact"><div class="methodology-inner"><div class="brands-colored-divider gold"></div><h3><span class="h3-outline">06</span><strong> Advocacy</strong></h3><h3 class="standards-h2-subhead"><strong>Requirements for Climate Advocacy Reporting</strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>Certified entities are strongly encouraged to engage in lobbying, education and stakeholder (e.g. customer, supplier, employee, consumer) mobilization efforts in support of climate solutions. Applications for certification will include a requirement to report on such activities completed in the prior calendar year. This reporting will not be made public, but should generally include one or more of the following activities:</p><ol role="list"><li><strong>Climate Lobbying:</strong> Support climate policy at any political level directly or in collaboration with an advocacy or trade organization. </li><li><strong>Internal Climate Literacy: </strong>Engage your team in the Climate Neutral Certification process and conduct education sessions to increase staff understanding of climate issues.</li><li><strong>Consumer Climate Literacy:</strong> Engage consumers in the Climate Neutral Certification process and importance of climate action.</li></ol><p>In addition, use of the Climate Neutral Certified label is an important form of advocacy. Re-certifying companies must provide evidence of at least one (1) example of using the label in either a digital or real-world setting.</p></div></div></section><section id="07-transition" class="section_impact"><div class="methodology-inner"><div class="brands-colored-divider terracotta"></div><h2 class="standards-h2"><span class="h3-outline">07</span> <strong>Transition Period</strong></h2><h3 class="standards-h2-subhead"><strong>Standard Transition Period and VER Eligibility Window</strong></h3><div class="rich-text-block w-richtext"><p>The Change Climate Project staff reviews and updates this Standard annually through an in-depth stakeholder review process. For significant year-to-year changes to the Standard, a transition period may be provided for re-certifying entities to have more time to comply with the revised requirements. The length of the transition period for a given change (if any) will be defined during the annual review process.</p><p>All entities certifying for the first time must comply with the version of the Climate Neutral Certified Standard for the applicable certification year. </p><p>Transition periods will not apply to changes in the requirements for purchasing carbon avoidance or removal credits / offsets. 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