What criteria do I use to assess what a good carbon removal project is?

When considering carbon removal projects, you can evaluate their quality and integrity with the following factors:

1. Durability: Opt for projects, such as enhanced rock weathering, that offer long-term carbon removal (100,000+ years) with minimal risk of reversibility. This will ensure that the emissions removed will be permanent.

2. Scientific Backing: Is your preferred carbon removal project underpinned by peer-reviewed science? If not, there is a risk that the project will not deliver the climate action benefits offered.

3. Verifiability: Although the credits may not be verified at the time of purchase, ensure the project type has a quantification approach supported by one of the mainstream voluntary carbon standards (a methodology). Preferably, select projects that conform to ISO 14064 guidelines or ICROA-backed methodologies or both!

4. Co-benefits: Consider whether the project delivers additional non-carbon-related benefits, such as biodiversity conservation or community development. The verification of these co-benefits can be done using respected global metrics such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).