Table 8 in the Certification Standard provides the definitive list of eligible OC project types. The following table is a supplement to the Certification Standard. It offers additional detail to support the Climate Transition Budgeting process.
Category | Examples |
Planning, Research, and Development |
|
Capacity-building & change management | - Sustainability team salaries or consulting fees specifically allocated toward planning, implementing climate projects, or time spent on completing the certification process |
Net-zero consulting services | - Consulting project to complete GHG measurement, conduct a custom LCA, or build a multi-year climate strategy for your company |
Software | - License fees for software tools to help you with carbon accounting, carbon management, or supplier engagement & data collection, including the BEE |
Market Transformation Initiatives |
|
Supplier engagement initiatives and collaborations > Low-carbon fuel buyer groups > Pre-competitive procurement work for low-carbon materials | - Membership fees to participate in buyer’s alliance (e.g. GMA, CEBA, etc) - OIA Co-Labs for decarbonization of operations and/or supply chains |
Climate policy advocacy | - Direct pro-climate lobbying |
Climate literacy initiatives | - Employee climate engagement & training - Climate justice employee training or customer education |
Just transition initiatives > Contributions to organizations that develop projects with a combined climate and community impact or benefit | - Community based investments with clear climate benefit (e.g. public transportation, urban forestry, community solar) - Donation to an organization that works with farmers to promote the transition to regenerative ag practices |
Initiatives to reduce demand for raw materials > Circularity > Targeted material take-back programs | - Costs to implement a product take-back program for landfill diversion and upcycling |
Capital for the Net-Zero Transition |
|
Investments in equity or debt at below market rates that accelerate clean energy deployment | - Below market lending for supplier decarbonization investments |
Examples of excluded project types:
Charitable contributions to general environmental organizations that do not have an explicit mission to reduce or remove GHG emissions
In-kind contributions, since these can be difficult to value and challenging to prove the “additional” climate benefit
General membership fees paid to industry associations. (Fees for participation in working groups focused on decarbonization are eligible.)