How we choose the projects

Who does what

The 7-step review

CNaught checks every project on its own before it can join a portfolio. A project has to pass all seven steps.

According to CNaught, fewer than 3% of the projects on the market are eligible to be considered, and about 80% of those pass the review.

Screening

1. 1

   Public documents

   The design document and the monitoring and verification reports for every issuance must be complete and public. For nature-based projects, the mapped boundaries must match those documents.

2. 2

   Independent ratings

   At least one of four rating agencies must rate the project highly: BeZero (BBB or above), Calyx Global (BBB or above), Renoster (Good or above) or Sylvera (BBB or above). A high rating is required, but it isn't enough on its own.

3. 3

   Environmental, social and reputational risk

   CNaught looks at operational, environmental, social, governance and reputational risks. A serious or unresolved problem keeps the project out.

Four quality checks

Each project must be low risk on all four. High risk on any one of them keeps it out.

4. 4

   Additionality

   The project would not happen without the money from carbon credits. CNaught checks its finances, what the law already requires and what is common practice.

5. 5

   Over-crediting

   The credits must match the real climate impact. CNaught checks the baseline, the project's own emissions, leakage and buffer contributions.

6. 6

   Durability

   The carbon has to stay out of the atmosphere. CNaught checks reversal risks such as fire, how they are reduced and how local communities take part.

7. 7

   Double counting

   Each tonne is counted once. The project must be on a single registry, its area can't overlap another project's and no one else can claim the same reduction.

Our own rules on top

Our portfolio and credit-quality policy (version 1.0, September 2026) adds these rules for every credit we sell:

• Issued under Verra, Gold Standard, Climate Action Reserve or Puro.earth. Other standards only after a documented review.
• Validated and verified by an accredited independent body.
• A unique serial number on a public registry, retired on your behalf so it can never be sold or used again.
• For nature-based projects, a buffer under the standard that replaces credits if stored carbon is lost.
• No unresolved, credible allegations of serious social or environmental harm.
• The vintage of every retirement shown on your order.
• No single project above 35% and no single country above 40% of the volume in any quarter.

Why a mix of projects

Today the mix is CNaught's Impact portfolio:

• 60%Technology-based reductions · Oxford Type 1
• 29%Nature-based reductions · Oxford Type 2
• 10%Nature-based removals · Oxford Type 4
• 1%Technology-based removals · Oxford Type 5

There are no Oxford Type 3 projects (capturing fossil CO₂ at the source) yet: they are still rare and expensive.

Following the Oxford Principles, the share of removals should grow as supply and prices allow. We announce any change to the mix on this site before it applies.

If something goes wrong

Check it yourself