Certifying entities must provide proof of purchase and proof of retirement for all carbon credits.
To meet both of these requirements, entities may provide an attestation form signed by the provider/broker. This attestation form serves as a proof of purchase and retirement, and provides information needed to confirm that the credits meet the requirements of the Certification Standard.
Download a carbon credit attestation form template here.
The attestation form contains the following details:
Project Name: the official name of the credit project
# of Credits Purchased: In tonnes
Vintage Year: The year a credit was issued
Project Type: Ex. Renewable energy, cookstoves, or avoided deforestation, etc
Verification Standard: VCS, Gold Standard, ACR (American Carbon Registry), CAR (Climate Action Reserve), or EU Biochar Certificate
Project ID: The number that links a credit to a verifier's registry, (ex. VCS1234)
Credit Provider: Name fo the carbon credit seller signing the form
Project Location: The country where the project is based
In addition (or in the event that an attestation form is unavailable), you may provide the following for all carbon credits that you purchase:
Registry report (via hyperlink or screenshot) showing carbon credits retired on your behalf AND a payment receipt showing amount paid per credit
OR
Fully executed purchase contract AND payment receipt for credits purchased. A valid purchase contract must indicate either (a) that the certifying entity has completed a purchase of all required carbon credits or (b) has a contractual obligation to complete the purchase of all required credits within 12 months (ie. a payment plan). Installment purchases should be spaced at least quarterly and weighted evenly across the 12 month period. If on a payment plan, an attestation form is also required - see above.