Start with the applicable rules
An activity that reduces emissions does not automatically qualify for carbon credits. The selected programme and methodology determine eligibility, the project boundary, the evidence required and how results are assessed.
Review these requirements early, before treating possible credit revenue as a committed part of the project case.
Additionality asks what would happen anyway
Additionality concerns whether the activity meets the programme’s test for going beyond what would happen without the carbon-credit incentive. Evidence may include regulatory requirements, investment considerations, barriers and common practice, according to the applicable methodology.
It is a documented assessment, not a label that follows from choosing a cleaner technology.
The baseline is the comparison scenario
The baseline describes the situation expected without the proposed activity. It provides the reference for assessing emission reductions or removals within the chosen project boundary.
Historical plant data can inform that assessment, but a baseline is not necessarily the same as last year’s emissions. Its selection and calculation must follow the relevant methodology.
Connect the argument to the records
Project documentation brings the activity, baseline, additionality demonstration and monitoring plan together. Identify the records needed, their owners and any gaps before making claims about likely credit volumes.
Independent validation and verification bodies assess the project and reported results under the programme’s rules. Advisory support can help prepare the evidence; it does not replace those assessments or guarantee credit issuance.
A general discussion guide, not a site-specific engineering assessment. The right approach depends on the project and its operating context.
