In voluntary carbon markets, activities that reduce GHGs produce Verified Emission Reductions (VERs), that can be sold to companies or individuals wishing to voluntarily reduce their impact on the environment. Purchasing VERs can be an effective means of offsetting the part of a company’s carbon footprint where it is not in a position to reduce its emissions directly.

The existence of a voluntary market for emission reductions can support smaller-scale, sometimes village-level activities - which cannot withstand the costs of compliance with Kyoto (certifiers, validators, consultants etc.) but deliver real emission reductions and significant sustainable development benefits.

 

In order to ensure that buyers are purchasing a real emission reduction, VERs must be calculated according to a VER Standard. There are several VER Standards currently being used throughout the world and each sets out different rules governing the project types that are acceptable and way emission reductions are measured. Standards are important because they provide assurance for buyers of VERs. 

 

Currently there is no regulating body enforcing quality standards in relation to the development and trading of VERs – for this reason it is important to partner with a company like EcoSecurities, which has extensive experience developing high quality emission reduction projects in the compliance market. Different VER standards can be applied to different projects and EcoSecurities seeks to verify each project to the strictest standard available to that project type and sector.