Which certification standards must a project meet when purchasing green power through carbon offsets?

The requirement to meet Green-e Climate certified standards when purchasing green power through carbon offsets is based on the need for credible and verifiable environmental claims. Green-e Climate is a leading certification program that verifies that renewable energy and related carbon offset products meet specific environmental integrity and consumer protection standards. This certification ensures that the green power being purchased actually supports renewable energy projects and that the carbon offsets are legitimate, improving transparency and trust in the market.

In contrast, LEED Gold certification standards pertain more broadly to building performance and sustainable practices rather than specifically addressing green power purchases. ISO 14001 standards focus on environmental management systems and processes for organizations without directly validating carbon offset purchases. ESG reporting standards relate to environmental, social, and governance factors in investment, which do not inherently apply to the procurement of green power. Therefore, Green-e Climate is the most relevant standard for verifying the sustainability and impact of purchasing carbon offsets.