ICROA Code of Best Practice

The ICROA Code of Best Practice aims to define international best practice in carbon reduction and compensation and represents the minimum requirements that all ICROA Approved organisations must meet. The Code is applicable to all organisations that offer carbon management and compensation services.

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Introduction

Scientific knowledge on climate change demands urgent and substantial cuts in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Achieving this requires a comprehensive strategy of carbon management for organisations.

Carbon management is the implementation of a thorough and transparent organisation-wide process to measure and report GHG emissions, identify and implement actions to reduce emissions in line with science, and thereafter compensating for remaining emissions with high-quality carbon credits.

The ICROA Programme has been recognised since 2008 as the industry standard for voluntary carbon market services providers promoting corporate net zero delivery aligned with the Paris Agreement goals. ICROA Approval is obtained annually through an independent third-party compliance audit based on the ICROA Code of Best Practice. The Code sets out requirements and guidelines for high integrity and is continuously updated to encompass best practices.

The Code of Best Practice ensures ICROA Approved organisations, and their clients, undertake carbon management strategies that lead to ambitious and impactful climate action.

Code structure

  • Transacting Carbon Credits

    Section 1: Transacting and Retiring Carbon Credits

  • Footprinting

    Section 2: GHG Emissions and Removals Inventories (Footprinting)

  • Advisory Services

    Section 3: GHG Emission Reductions Advisory Services

Scope

All organisations seeking Approval must complete the ICROA Application process to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria and are ready to be audited against the requirements of this Code of Best Practice.

The Code of Best Practice is applicable to organisations providing the following voluntary carbon management services:

  • Developing GHG emissions and removals inventories (footprint)
  • ​GHG emissions reduction advisory services, including target setting and strategies to align with science
  • ​Providing and advising on certification programmes that include the use of carbon credits, e.g. BSI PAS 2060 and NCOS (Australia’s National Carbon Offset Standard)
  • ​Carbon crediting services through the provision and retirement of ICROA-approved carbon credits
  • ​​Providing transparent and robust reporting, claims and communication services

ICROA Code of Best Practice

Transacting and retiring carbon credits

When transacting or retiring carbon credits on behalf of a client, ICROA Approved organisations commit to use carbon credits based on the following principles:

  • Real
  • Additional
  • Measurable
  • Independently verified
  • Permanent
  • Unique

ICROA Approved organisations are encouraged to promote sustainable development in their projects while committing to use only carbon credits that are verified and issued under Carbon Crediting Programmes Endorsed by ICROA.

ICROA Accreditation Programme

ICROA Accreditation