Introduction
The CarbonNeutral Protocol Purpose Principles Structure of The CarbonNeutral Protocol Development of The CarbonNeutral Protocol Relationship to other initiatives Acknowledgements Definition and scope Use Disclaimer Trademark and copyright About Climate Impact Partners Awards
Core Requirements
Application of a grace period Allowances for small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
Foundation: Governance Step 1: Define Step 2: Measure Step 3: Target Step 4: Reduce Step 5: Inform
Technical Specifications and Guidance
Step 1: Define
1.1 Required GHG Emissions Sources 1.2 Certification specific requirements 1.3 Corporate value chain (Scope 3) accounting and reporting 1.4 Product-type certifications 1.5 Treatment of assets rented or leased to customers of CarbonNeutral® entities
Step 2: Measure
2.1 GHG emission quantification requirements for the defined subject 2.2 GHG Emissions Assessments 2.3 Requirements for measurement of the organizational carbon footprint 2.4 Quality assurance and verification 2.5 Energy use (gas and electricity) 2.6 Aviation 2.7 How to report GHG emissions from carbon neutral services within a corporate GHG inventory 2.8 Using environmental product declarations (EPDs) for CarbonNeutral® products
Step 3: Target
3.1 Requirements for emissions reduction targets 3.2 Near-term targets 3.3 Long-term targets 3.4 Net zero targets
Step 4: Reduce
4.1 Internal abatement requirements 4.2 External compensation requirements 4.3 Recognized non-carbon accounting standards 4.4 Evaluating internal GHG reduction projects 4.5 Elaboration on additionality and baselines 4.6 The use of carbon credits generated by projects which avoid, reduce and remove GHGs 4.7 Insetting 4.8 Corresponding Adjustments (CAs)
Step 5: Inform
5.1 Required disclosures 5.2 Use of the CarbonNeutral® Certification logo 5.3 Regulations around environmental claims 5.4 Communicating CarbonNeutral® certification 5.5 Communicating 100% Renewable Electricity
Glossary of Terms
Reference Material
Attestation forms Cross-compliance Tables
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The CarbonNeutral Protocol Index

Step 1: Define

The first step is to clearly define the subject that will be certified CarbonNeutral®. The subject is the entity, product or activity being certified CarbonNeutral® and may be distinct from the client.

Overview of requirements

The subject to which The CarbonNeutral Protocol is being applied must be clearly defined, by name and by description of the relevant legal and/or physical boundaries. The duration of a CarbonNeutral® certification must also be defined with a start and end date applicable to the award of the certification.

The CarbonNeutral® certification to be applied must also be defined and must be compatible with the subject. The definition of the subject and the certification must be recorded by the CarbonNeutral certifier and the information retained for the purpose of auditing.

CarbonNeutral® certifications and their emission sources

To provide consistency across a wide range of possible situations, the Protocol provides for a number of different CarbonNeutral® certifications corresponding to different possible entities, products and activities.

These certifications are grouped into three classes:

Entities: Defined by legal status and spatial boundaries, covering all types of organizations, including companies and public sector bodies. Where this applies to a Group or parent company, all subsidiary companies must be included.

Products: Defined as an article, substance, capital asset or combination of product and service produced, manufactured or refined for the purpose of onward sale. This class includes mass produced goods such as food and equipment; single use and custom built products such as buildings and urban developments; and, products-as-a-service, such as on-demand printing and personal transport.

Activities: Defined by the delivery of utility through a combination of mobile and stationary activities, including traditional transportation services (flights, car journeys, logistics, etc.), information provision such as hosting of data, or professional services, and one-off events that involve a combination of mobile and stationary activities (events, conferences etc.).

Technical Specification 1.1 includes tables, organized by certification class, that specify required and recommended emission sources to be included in a subject’s GHG assessment and CarbonNeutral® certification.

Image: Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve REDD+, Indonesia: The project has established a scholarship fund to enhance educational access and provide writing books.

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