Recommendations

• Carbon credit use should complement, not replace, direct decarbonization. Companies can use carbon credits to contribute to global climate action through Beyond Value Chain Mitigation—measures to prevent, reduce, or remove emissions outside a company’s value chain—and augment their science-aligned decarbonization targets. This embodies a “Yes, and” approach to corporate climate action. 
• Carbon credits should be high integrity. Buyers should conduct due diligence to ensure credits have environmental and social integrity and align their purchasing behavior with net-zero needs and guidance as they evolve. Useful resources for due diligence include the Carbon Credit Quality Initiative, the Carbon Offset Guide, and the Tropical Forest Credit Integrity Guide.
• Claims linked to crediting should be specific and accurate. Companies should articulate the role credits play in their climate plan. The VCMI Claims Code of Practice has guidance for how companies can make clear and informative claims about their carbon credit usage. 
• Disclosures should be transparent and comprehensive. Companies should publicly disclose the quantity of carbon credits they purchase and retire. At the carbon credit level, disclosures should include the project and/or program, Project ID and serial number, host country, issuing year, and any co-benefit certifications.
• Advocate for strong carbon credit policies and standards. Carbon credit buyers are an important voice in increasing the integrity of the voluntary carbon market. Companies should participate in integrity initiatives and advocate for strong standards.