The Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) are a global standard developed to define high-quality carbon credits in the voluntary carbon market. The resource outlines the principles, supporting assessment framework, and procedures used to evaluate carbon-crediting programmes and credits. It aims to improve transparency, consistency and integrity, which is relevant for finance professionals assessing carbon markets and climate-related investments.
Organisation behind the resource
The resource is developed and maintained by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM), an independent global governance body established to set standards and guidance for the voluntary carbon market.
What the resource does
- Defines ten Core Carbon Principles covering governance, emissions impact and sustainable development
- Provides an Assessment Framework to evaluate carbon-crediting programmes and credit categories
- Sets criteria for transparency, verification, additionality, permanence and avoidance of double counting
- Explains procedures for assessing and labelling eligible carbon credits
- Offers guidance documents, summaries for decision-makers, and technical definitions
- Enables the use of a CCP label to identify high-integrity carbon credits across registries
Target audience
Primary users include:
- Corporates purchasing carbon credits
- Investors and financial institutions
- Carbon market participants and project developers
Other users include policymakers, regulators, standard-setting bodies and researchers involved in climate and carbon markets.
Relevance to finance professionals
- Risk assessment
Supports due diligence on carbon credit quality and integrity
Helps identify exposure to low-quality or non-compliant offset projects
- ESG analysis
Provides criteria for environmental and social integrity, including sustainable development safeguards
Assists in evaluating credibility of climate claims and reporting
- Market/commodity insights
Offers a structured benchmark for voluntary carbon markets
Improves understanding of carbon credit supply quality and market fragmentation
- Investment context
Informs allocation of capital towards credible emissions reduction and removal projects
Supports alignment with net-zero strategies and long-term climate transition goals
