Introduction
The CarbonNeutral Protocol Purpose Principles Structure Development of The CarbonNeutral Protocol Other standards About Climate Impact Partners Acknowledgements Legal Awards
Core Requirements
Step 1: Define Step 2: Measure Step 3: Target Step 4: Reduce Step 5: Communicate
Technical Specifications and Guidance
Step 1: Define
1.1 Required GHG Emissions Sources 1.2 Certification specific requirements 1.3 Corporate value chain (Scope 3) accounting and reporting 1.4 Product-type certifications 1.5 Treatment of assets rented or leased to customers of CarbonNeutral® entities
Step 2: Measure
2.1 GHG Emissions quantification requirements 2.2 GHG Emissions Assessments 2.3 Quality assurance and verification 2.4 Energy use (gas and electricity) 2.5 Aviation 2.6 Materials consumption and waste 2.7 How to report GHG emissions from carbon neutral services within a corporate GHG inventory 2.8 Using environmental product declarations (EPDs) for CarbonNeutral® products
Step 3: Target
3.1 Approved emission reduction strategies and/or targets 3.2 Target and Reduce Form 3.3 Setting internal reduction targets 3.4 Net zero targets 3.5 Climate (or carbon, or net) positive
Step 4: Reduce
4.1 Approved Environmental Instrument Standards 4.2 Recognised non-carbon accounting standards 4.3 Evaluating internal GHG reductions 4.4 Elaboration on additionality and baselines 4.5 The use of carbon credits generated by projects which avoid, reduce and remove GHGs 4.6 Insetting 4.7 Excluded emission reduction project types 4.8 Corresponding Adjustments (CAs)
Step 5: Communicate
5.1 Use of the CarbonNeutral Certification logo 5.2 Communicating CarbonNeutral certification 5.3 Communicating 100% Renewable Electricity 5.4 Recommended disclosures and communication
Glossary of Terms
Reference Material
Attestation forms Cross-compliance Tables
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The CarbonNeutral Protocol Index

You can read the Protocol by downloading the PDF of the Protocol or through these web pages. The content is identical in both places.

We are pleased to present this 2023 edition of The CarbonNeutral Protocol. First developed and published in 2002, The Protocol is revised and updated annually to reflect developments in climate science, international policy, standards and business practice. It is an open source standard and guide developed for business by business that draws together leading independent standards for greenhouse gas accounting into a practical guide to carbon neutrality.

Read more about the background to the Protocol in the Introduction, the terms we use in Glossary or step into the core requirements for achieving CarbonNeutral® certification by clicking on any of the five steps to achieving certification below.

Step 1: Define

Understand exactly what should be covered in your footprint

Step 2: Measure

Calculate it accurately and conservatively

Step 3: Target

Set goals to reduce the footprint you defined and offset all remaining emissions

Step 4: Reduce

Deliver internal reductions and offset all remaining emissions through financing verified emission reductions and removals

Step 5: Communicate

Demonstrate your climate action and engage your teams, customers and stakeholders
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