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Executive Summary

The Absolute Carbon Standard (ACS) is a new approach to emissions mitigation assessment, expanding upon existing carbon standards to ensure that project claims match climate impacts. Unlike traditional approaches, which rely on pathway-specific methodologies and fragmented criteria, the Absolute Carbon Standard is the first industry-wide standard that evaluates projects using a universal and objective procedure, and is compatible with net zero targets. This enables apples-to-apples comparisons between projects, even for dramatically different technologies. By focusing on the measurable impact of activities on the carbon cycle, the Absolute Climate Standard enables consistent evaluations, reduces buyer risks, and ensures that mitigation claims are based on climate progress rather than project activities.

The current carbon market is challenged by a lack of standardization. Credits are sold as fungible units, even when projects are assessed using varying baselines, scopes, and evaluation criteria. The result is that project claims often do not match their climate impacts. This makes buyer due diligence more complicated and expensive, and discourages trust in credit quality. Project developers also face uphill battles in differentiating their offerings, as market incentives do not reward high-integrity MRV. These challenges make it harder for new buyers to enter the market, for project developers to bring projects online, and for the carbon removal industry to develop the trust and certainty required to achieve gigaton-scale impact.

The Absolute Carbon Standard addresses these challenges by establishing a robust framework that combines scientific rigor with practical flexibility. ACS introduces a comprehensive approach that integrates cutting-edge evaluation tools, clear categorization of project types, and tailored credit labels for projects at different stages of maturity.

The Absolute Carbon Standard introduces three new concepts: the Anthropogenic Emissions Model (AEM), Mitigation Types, and Mitigation Classes.

The Anthropogenic Emissions Model (AEM) evaluates the movement of emissions within the carbon cycle, providing a clear and consistent method for assessing the net impact of any project. By focusing on emissions fluxes instead of project activities, AEM enables the same criteria to be applied to all project types, eliminating inconsistencies. This ensures that every project is evaluated based on its measurable contribution to the carbon balance.

Mitigation Classes create credit labels that account for project maturity and scientific certainty. Absolute Class includes projects with proven, verifiable climate outcomes, where credit claims are demonstrated with measurable confidence. Innovation Class provides a pathway for emerging technologies that are still developing their methods but require support to scale. This dual classification system enables “fit for purpose MRV,” allowing early-stage projects to thrive while maintaining rigorous standards for long-term market integrity.