Submit a project idea for carbon offsetting

We contractually include suitable projects in our project portfolio and support them by purchasing the generated emission reductions. The myclimate support for developing carbon offset projects includes the entire project development process from the project idea to the issuance of CO₂ certificates in accordance with renowned standards. International projects may be certified according to Gold Standard, Verra VCS or Plan Vivo and Swiss projects according to the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)/Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) guidelines.

Please contact us if you would like to propose a project that is in the development process or has already been developed under one of the standards mentioned above.

All myclimate carbon offset projects must fulfill certain basic criteria. Please use the following checklist to make sure your project idea fits before submitting it to myclimate. It must fulfil all of the points on the list. The criteria for Swiss projects are available here.

Project criteria:

1. The emissions reduction of the project is expected to be more than 5’000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
    
2. The project idea includes clearly defined activities that result in quantifiable emission reductions.
    
3. The project does not consist solely of an education, marketing or consulting activity.
    
4. The project has not yet been implemented and no substantial order has yet been done.
    
5. The project requires additional financial support to overcome financial or other obstacles that hinder implementation.
    
6. Emissions reductions generated by the project are not being credited or sold in another way.
    
7. The project does not lead to any negative impacts on the environment and the local community or bear the risk to do so.
    
8. The project contributes to sustainable development.
    
9. The project is implemented by a strong, experienced partner organization in the host country that is familiar with the language, the culture and the local conditions on the ground.

The following additional criteria apply to land use and forestry (LUF) projects:

• The minimum potential project size is around 500ha (can start smaller and scale-up).
   
• The project participants are smallholders and/or local communities.
   
• The land used in the project is either smallholder land or community-owned land.
   
• Land tenure or user rights must be stable and secured.
   
• No monocultures are established.

Carbon offset projects follow an internationally recognised development process. We stay in close contact with the project partners throughout the entire project lifecycle. Please expect a period of at least one year before the project is registered and two to three years until the first carbon credits are issued.

• During the initial project sourcing phase, our experts assess the feasibility of the carbon offset project based on the information in the project idea note.
   
• In the due diligence phase, we examine the project thoroughly. We create a strong financing model and clarify contractual matters.
   
• In the development phase, we develop the final project design (Project Design Document, PDD), which is then checked externally (project validation and registration).
   
• During implementation, we support project monitoring and verification as well as the issuance, sale and retirement of emissions reduction certificates.

• Download our Project Idea Note (PIN) template
   
• Send us your Project Idea Note (PIN) filled in to the greatest possible extent along with relevant additional material at projects@myclimate.org.
   
• Once you submit your project outline, myclimate will assess your project and get in touch with you as soon as possible.

Further information:

• International Carbon offset projects
• Swiss carbon offset projects
• Carbon Insetting