Asking the following questions can help reduce the risk of purchasing carbon credits from harmful projects:
- Before implementation, did the project developers engage and consult with local stakeholders potentially affected by the project? Stakeholder consultation can be particularly important in developing countries, where there are often fewer regulatory safeguards. If stakeholder outreach was not undertaken, this failure should raise concerns, though the seriousness may depend on the type of project involved and where it is located. Some types of projects pose fewer risks to local communities than others.
- Has the project received any program or third-party certifications affirming its environmental or social co-benefits? Generally, such certifications (e.g., from the CCBA; SOCIALCARBON; or crediting programs themselves) can provide added assurance that a project will not cause harm and ensure that project developers have considered the concerns of local stakeholders. Projects that have not received any co-benefit certification do not necessarily pose a high risk of harm, but it may be useful to inquire with project developers about why they did not seek certification if it was an option.
- What has the project done to minimize risks and reduce potential harm? Where there is a significant risk, it is crucially important to understand a project’s specific circumstances, how it has addressed potential risks and the concerns of local stakeholders, and what mechanisms it has in place to both avoid harm and compensate for any harm that does occur. The CCBS, for example, requires ongoing community impact monitoring associated with forestry projects. A project’s documentation that is publicly accessible from the crediting program’s registry, should provide information to answer this question. If not, you should reach out to the project developer directly.