How to Start a Carbon Project: The Developer’s Guide

Who this page is for. Project developers and sponsors preparing to start, register, and finance a voluntary carbon project. Not legal or tax advice. All work subject to diligence, KYC/AML/sanctions, host-country rules, and documentation.

How to Start a Carbon Project: The Developer’s Guide

Use this as your checklist from idea to first issuance. You will confirm rights, pick a methodology, run a tight feasibility, engage communities, build MRV, pass validation, open registry accounts, and close offtake and finance. Skip steps and you burn time and trust. Follow the order and you keep your timeline and your leverage.

AFOLU, blue carbon, biochar, cookstoves, methane Standards: Verra VCS, Gold Standard, ART/TREES Labels: Article 6, CORSIA, CCP where applicable

Outputs: feasibility model • rights pack • FPIC plan • MRV SOP • PDD outline • registry SOP • ERPA term sheet

1) Quick Eligibility Filter

  • Rights locked: land tenure or use rights, carbon rights, consent to operate.
  • Project boundary: clear geospatial boundary with no overlapping concessions.
  • Additionality path: baseline exists and the activity is not common practice without finance.
  • Community plan: FPIC feasible with real engagement and a grievance channel.
  • Delivery team: field capacity and a data plan for monitoring.

Stop now if you cannot prove rights or run FPIC. No rights, no project.

2) Choose Project Type and Methodology

Project type Common methods Typical data needs Key risks to control
ARR reforestation / restoration VCS ARR; GS A/R land-use methods Species mix, growth curves, plots, soil data Survival rates, leakage, permanence
REDD+ avoided deforestation VCS REDD+; nesting with ART/TREES where relevant Historic deforestation, drivers, remote sensing Nesting, baseline integrity, leakage
Improved cookstoves VCS/GS cookstove methods Usage surveys, stove tests, sampling Adoption rates, usage decay
Biochar VCS biochar methods Feedstock, carbon content, application rates Permanence, contamination
Methane capture Landfill, wastewater, agriculture methane methods Methane flow, destruction efficiency, monitoring Baseline proof, metering performance

3) Prove Rights and Set the Legal Base

  • Land title or concession, leases, or community agreements covering the full boundary.
  • Carbon rights deed or assignment, with benefit-sharing terms.
  • Letters of authority from landowners, communities, and relevant agencies.
  • Conflict checks and maps showing no overlaps with protected or conceded areas.

Create a rights pack with scans, certified copies, translations, and a summary memo.

4) Run a 4-Week Feasibility

Week Deliverables Decision gates
1 Boundary, rights pack, method shortlist, data request list Rights valid and complete
2 Baseline sketch, community map, field cost model Additionality plausible
3 First-pass volume and unit cost per tCO₂e Economics above threshold after buffers and fees
4 Go or no-go memo with risks and timeline Board green light

5) Community Engagement and FPIC

  • Stakeholder map and contact plan.
  • FPIC script and meeting records with attendance and minutes.
  • Grievance channel with response times and logging.
  • Benefit-sharing terms aligned with cashflow and governance.

6) Baseline, MRV, and Data

  • GIS boundary and historic activity data, with sources archived.
  • Sampling plan, measurement devices, calibration records, SOPs.
  • QA/QC plan, version control, and a data dictionary.
  • Monitoring calendar tied to validation and issuance windows.

7) Validation, Verification, and Registry

  • Pick a VVB, run an RFP, lock dates for validation and first verification.
  • Draft the PDD against the chosen method and run an internal check.
  • Open registry accounts, set user roles, prepare for listing and public comment.
  • Plan issuance, transfers, and retirements with serial number control.

8) Commercials: ERPAs and Finance

  • ERPA terms: price floors or collars, volume flex, make-good, remedies, title and risk of loss.
  • Finance options: prepayment against deliveries, streaming on future issuances, equity for build-out.
  • Article 6 pathway: host-country authorization and corresponding adjustment where possible.
  • Insurance stack: delivery, permanence, and political risk where needed.

9) Document Checklist

Bucket Documents
Rights Titles, leases, concessions, carbon rights deed, benefit-sharing, authority letters
Technical Baseline dataset, sampling plan, MRV SOP, QA/QC, device logs, PDD draft
Community FPIC records, stakeholder log, grievance register, community agreements
Registry Account KYC, user roles, listing package, public comment materials
Commercial ERPA term sheet, finance term sheets, insurance quotes and binders

10) Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Starting without rights or FPIC. This kills deals later.
  • Picking a method that your data cannot support.
  • Weak QA/QC that fails validation.
  • Signing offtakes that block Article 6 paths or create double counting risk.
  • Missing registry steps that delay listing and issuance.

Want a bankable start with clear steps, documents, and timelines? We can run feasibility, rights, MRV, validation, registry, and offtake for you.

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Disclaimers

  • We advise and arrange. We are not your lawyer or tax advisor.
  • Standards and policies change. Final terms depend on diligence and documentation.
  • Host-country approvals and Article 6 processes vary by jurisdiction.