Carbon Offset Validation and Verification

Climate

News

January 6, 2012
World Bank’s New Greenhouse Gas Accounting Methodology Approved by SCS

September 19, 2011
Go Zero Growing For The Gold In Louisiana

September 6, 2011
First forest project on Sabah, Borneo registered under the VCS

June 25, 2010
Emeryville's SCS Tests Environmental Claims for Safeway, Clorox

January 1, 2010
SCS Voted Best Verification Company by Environmental Finance Readers

Scientific Certification Systems’ third-party validation and verification of your carbon offset project ensures that your emission reduction claims are credible, transparent and tradable in the international carbon market. As a recognized leader in environmental claims and certifications and an international pioneer in responsible forest management certification, SCS is the world’s leading verifier of forest and land-use carbon offset claims.

We verify carbon offset projects throughout the world in:

Improved Forest Management
Afforestation and Reforestation
Avoided Conversion Projects
REDD
Other AFOLU Project Types

Scientific Certification Systems works with NGOs, investment funds, and private landowners. We offer personalized attention, fast turnaround and a high-level of service tailored to your needs.

SCS has verified carbon footprints and carbon offsets for The Nature Conservancy of California, The Pacific Forest Trust’s Van Eck Forest Project and the Conservation Fund’s Garcia River Project in Northern California; Ducks Unlimited’s Avoided Grassland Conversion Project in the Prairie Pothole Region of the Dakotas; and a Greenoxx forest project in Uruguay.

Services Suited to Your Needs

Verification of project-based emissions reductions
Project design validation
Bundled services (e.g., FSC Certification + GHG Verification, VCS + CCB Verification, etc.)
Pre-assessment or gap analysis
VCS Methodology Assessment

Benefits of Verification

Provide independent confirmation of your carbon offset claims to stakeholders
Take advantage of financial opportunities through carbon trading
Support your environmental reporting objectives
Ensure that your project is recognized at the highest levels through affiliation with programs with internationally accepted accreditations

The SCS Carbon Offset Verification Program was established in 2006. In 2007, SCS conducted the first verifications of Forest Conservation Management Projects under the California Climate Action Registry (CCAR) Forestry Sector Protocols, now called Climate Action Reserve (CAR). SCS has verified projects totaling more than 530,000 acres globally.

SCS is accredited to ISO 14065 for GHG Validation and Verification by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and, under this accreditation, offers Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate Action Reserve (CAR) offset verification services. SCS also offers offset verification services under the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) standards.

Verification Process

SCS will guide your business through the verification process and provide personalized attention with a fast turnaround and a high-level of service tailored to your needs.

Application
Complete an application form, including a description of the project and its location. SCS staff will return a proposal to you for signature. To initiate the verification process, return a signed proposal and contract agreement.
Project Documentation Submission
SCS conducts a full desk review of all project documentation.
Site Visit
SCS conducts site visit(s) to assess your project’s compliance with the relevant program standards.
Verification Report
SCS makes final verification decision and outlines findings in the Verification Report.
Verification Opinion
The final verification opinion is submitted to the applicable GHG program for registration and issuance of carbon offsets (as warranted).

Carbon Offset Validation

Scientific Certification Systems uses its vast experience in carbon offset verification to validate your planned carbon offset projects. Please contact our GHG verification staff at any point in the development stages of your project. In addition to final verification, we are available to conduct a gap analysis prior to initiating the project to determine eligibility. A gap analysis can also identify technical issues prior to final certification and verification. Contact SCS today to find out about your project’s eligibility.