FAQ
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Getting Started With a Carbon Credit Project
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Come talk to us! Whether you're in the early stages of development or have just come up with an idea, we can help bring your project to life. Our team will evaluate your project, talk with you about your ideas, and provide tailored recommendations to guide you through the process of launching a successful carbon credit project.
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The information required can vary depending on the specific carbon offset project. To start, we recommend doing a feasibility assessment of the project to assess the financial and technical feasibility. This includes:
evaluating investment requirements
considering development and operational costs and calculating potential returns
determining administrative and legal challenges
assessing viability with carbon market best practices
reviewing potential risks associated with the project
Overall, the more information you have about your project, the better. Our team can work with you to gain the necessary information and find gaps where more information is needed. Don't worry if you don't know what information you need, we will help you every step of the way.
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Not at all! Carbon credits are not just for large companies. Organizations of all sizes can and should get involved with the carbon markets, reducing emissions and generating revenue at various stages of your business. Whether you are big or small, we can provide tailored solutions to get the low carbon economy fundamentals in place for a successful project.
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Yes, Guardyan can help you get your project started and support you from the early stages of project planning through to carbon credit monetization by providing expert support and services.
Feasibility Analysis: Assessing whether your project qualifies for carbon credits and determining its potential to reduce emissions.
Project Design and Documentation: Assisting in the development of project plans, including project design, monitoring systems, and documentation required for verification.
Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring your project meets all necessary carbon market standards and regulatory frameworks.
Registration and Verification: Guiding you through the process of registering the project, verifying emissions reductions, and generating carbon credits.
Market Access and Commercialization: Monetizing the credits once they’re generated, providing access to buyers and market platforms.
Carbon Credits
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Simply put, a carbon credit is a tradable unit representing one tonne of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) avoided or removed from the atmosphere. Carbon credits are measured in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), which accounts for the global warming potential of different types of greenhouses gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, etc.
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Voluntary Market
The Voluntary market is where companies can opt to purchase and develop carbon credits beyond any regulatory/legal requirements. Purchasers of voluntary credits may offset specific scopes of their operations.
Compliance Market
A compliance market is an emissions trading scheme within a carbon pricing regulation. Purchasers of compliance credits may use them to meet requirements of the carbon pricing regulation. For example, the Alberta Technology, Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) Regulation incorporates the Alberta Emission Offset System.
Unsure which is right for your needs?
Let us handle it. Our deep knowledge of both markets will make the best out of your operations, both financially and sustainably.
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Carbon credits incentivize the development and implementation of innovative emission reduction technologies by contributing to the financial feasibility of emission reduction projects.
Many businesses use carbon credits to meet their sustainability goals, showcasing their commitment to environmental stewardship and corporate social responsibility.
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Carbon credits are generated through projects or activities that either reduce or remove Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
Emission Reduction Projects: These projects cut emissions compared to a "business as usual" scenario. For example:
Switching to renewable energy (wind, solar).
Improving energy efficiency in industries or buildings.
Implementing cleaner transportation methods.
Carbon Removal Projects: These projects remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Reforestation (planting trees to absorb CO2).
Carbon capture and storage (technology that captures CO2 from industrial processes and stores it underground).
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You can purchase voluntary carbon credits, compliance carbon credits and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from Guardyan. We have our own portfolio of credits that we have created as well as a large network of credit generators who would be interested in providing these environmental attributes to suit your organizational needs.
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Guardyan can support you with the intricacies associated with carbon credit sales, including setting up ERPAs (Emission Reduction Purchase Agreements). Your carbon credits can be sold as "spot sales" or as long term offtake agreements depending on the project and the credits being generated. One of Guardyan's service offerings is brokering carbon credits on your behalf.
What Makes a High Integrity Offset?
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To ensure credibility, it’s essential to purchase carbon credits that are certified by recognized carbon crediting programs like Verra, Gold Standard, or Climate Action Reserve. Working with reputable project developers and brokers, like Guardyan Conservation, can ensure that your credits are legitimate and impactful.
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The value of a carbon credit is determined by factors such as the type of project it supports, certification standards, and market dynamics. Projects like renewable energy or reforestation, particularly those certified by recognized bodies like Gold Standard or Verra, are often valued higher due to their credibility and additional environmental or social benefits.
Market supply and demand also play a significant role, with high demand increasing credit prices. Projects that provide co-benefits, such as improved health or biodiversity, or those with long-term stability, tend to command higher prices. Compliance markets generally see higher credit values than voluntary markets due to regulated pricing.
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No, not all carbon credits are the same. Carbon credits vary based on factors such as the type of project they originate from, the certification standards they meet, and the co-benefits they provide. Projects can range from renewable energy and reforestation to methane capture, each offering different environmental impacts.
Additionally, some projects deliver benefits beyond carbon reduction, like supporting local communities or preserving biodiversity, which can increase their value. Finally, credits in compliance markets serve a different purpose compared to those in voluntary markets, further differentiating them.
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At Guardyan Conservation, we take pride in generating the highest integrity carbon offsets. We support you at every stage of your project to ensure it meets the strictest standards and delivers real, verified emissions reductions. Here's how we assist:
Project Evaluation: We help assess your project’s potential to generate carbon credits by reviewing its environmental impact and ensuring it aligns with carbon market expectations.
Methodology Selection or Writing: Whether you’re selecting an existing methodology or need custom guidance, we assist in choosing or developing the best approach to accurately measure and verify emissions reductions.
Regulatory Guidance: Carbon markets are complex, and we provide clear, up-to-date regulatory advice to keep your project compliant with all necessary standards and protocols.
Verification Process: To guarantee the integrity of your offsets, we guide you through the verification process, ensuring that an accredited third-party auditor verifies the emissions reductions achieved.
Monitoring: We assist with creating robust monitoring systems, so you can track the performance of your project over time and make sure it continues to deliver the intended benefits.
Reporting Plans: Transparency is key to high integrity. We develop comprehensive reporting plans that keep stakeholders informed and document your project's success in reducing carbon emissions.
By offering tailored support in each of these areas, we help ensure that your carbon offset project not only meets high integrity standards but also contributes meaningfully to climate solutions.
Our Services
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Our flexible carbon credit development services allows you to start anywhere you need. Have an idea, but not sure where to start? No problem! Just need a project registered? We have that covered.
See our Services page for more details: https://www.guardyanconservation.com/services
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A Project Description Document (PDD) is a comprehensive plan that outlines the critical aspects of a carbon credit project, serving as a foundational document for project approval and validation.
Project Overview: The PDD begins by describing the project's goals, its location, the baseline conditions (what would happen without the project), and the expected environmental impact. This includes details on how the project will reduce or remove greenhouse gases.
Methodology: It outlines the methodology used to calculate the emission reductions. This includes the specific steps, tools, and standards the project follows to ensure accuracy and consistency in its carbon accounting.
Monitoring Plan: The PDD explains how the project’s progress will be tracked over time, detailing the monitoring systems, metrics, and schedules for evaluating the project's impact on emissions.
Stakeholder Engagement: It includes information on how local communities and other stakeholders are involved in the project. This ensures transparency and that the project has social and environmental benefits beyond carbon reduction.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Often, a PDD will link the project to specific SDGs, such as biodiversity conservation, poverty alleviation, or economic development, showing its broader contributions.
Validation and Verification: The PDD is essential for the validation of the project by independent third parties. It also sets the stage for the verification of the emission reductions, which is necessary for the issuance of carbon credits.
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Book a meeting with one of our experts and we will work together to understand your needs and identify partnership opportunities. At Guardyan, we believe that generating carbon credits doesn't have to be more complicated than it already is.
Visit our Connect page for ways to get in contact: https://www.guardyanconservation.com/connect
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We have developed a variety of carbon credit projects in both compliance and voluntary markets. These range from:
renewable energy
new technologies
agriculture
hydrogen development
helium development
waste management
regenerative farming
sustainable aviation fuel
and many other great projects. We pride ourselves in agility and technical expertise to support clients, no matter the industry.