What is Carbon Credit Certification ISO 14064?
ISO 14064-2 (Specification with guidance at the project level for quantification, monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emission reductions or removal enhancements) is the key international standard for carbon project accounting. Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), it provides principles and requirements for designing, developing, managing, and reporting GHG projects — including nature-based carbon removal projects such as agroforestry.
The ISO 14064-2 certification process involves three stages: (1) Project Design — developing the GHG quantification methodology, establishing baselines, defining additionality, and designing the monitoring plan; (2) Monitoring and Verification — implementing the monitoring plan, collecting field data, and engaging an accredited verification body for independent review; (3) Reporting — producing a verified GHG project statement that quantifies emission reductions or removal enhancements with stated uncertainty. VERDANTIS's verification body is TÜV Austria, an ISO 14065-accredited validation and verification organisation.
For VERDANTIS's paulownia agroforestry projects, the ISO 14064-2 methodology covers four carbon pools: above-ground biomass (trunk, branches), below-ground biomass (root system), dead wood, and soil organic carbon. The ~30 tCO₂/ha/year figure represents the net sequestration across all four pools, minus the baseline carbon stocks of the previously degraded agricultural land and minus any project-related emissions (equipment, transport).
Quick Definition
ISO 14064-2 (Specification with guidance at the project level for quantification, monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emission reductions or removal enhancements) is the key international standard for carbon project accounting. Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), it provides principles and requirements for designing, developing, managing, and reporting GHG projects — including nature-based carbon removal projects such as agroforestry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is ISO 14064-2 preferred over VCS or Gold Standard?
ISO 14064-2 is a first-principles international standard that provides rigorous scientific methodology without being tied to a specific registry or voluntary carbon market scheme. It aligns directly with EU CRCF 'Carbon Farming' quantification requirements and EU Taxonomy MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) standards — making it the appropriate choice for VERDANTIS's EU regulatory compliance strategy. VCS and Gold Standard are registry frameworks that use ISO 14064-2-compatible methodologies but add commercial intermediary layers.
What is the difference between ISO 14064-1, -2, and -3?
ISO 14064-1 covers GHG inventories at the organisation level. ISO 14064-2 covers GHG projects (emission reductions or removals). ISO 14064-3 covers the validation and verification of GHG assertions. VERDANTIS operates under ISO 14064-2 (project-level quantification) with verification conducted under ISO 14064-3 by TÜV Austria.
What is the verification frequency for VERDANTIS's carbon credits?
VERDANTIS conducts annual monitoring and reporting, with third-party verification by TÜV Austria on a cycle aligned with SFDR periodic reporting requirements (annual). This provides investors with annual updates on verified carbon removal tonnes, supporting both Article 9 SFDR disclosures and CRCF credit issuance.
How does ISO 14064-2 address permanence risk?
ISO 14064-2 requires assessment and quantification of reversal risk — the risk that carbon stored in biomass is released (e.g., through fire, pest, disease, or illegal harvest). VERDANTIS mitigates reversal risk through: Southern European fire-adapted paulownia varieties (420°C fire resistance threshold), geographic diversification across >2,500 ha, insurance, and buffer reserves as required by CRCF methodology.
VERDANTIS and Carbon Credit Certification ISO 14064
VERDANTIS Impact Capital integrates the principles of Carbon Credit Certification ISO 14064 into its investment strategy. The fund — structured as a Luxembourg RAIF, Article 9 SFDR ("Dark Green") — combines paulownia agroforestry with EU-certified carbon credits to deliver measurable environmental impact alongside compelling financial returns: >20% target IRR, >9x MOIC, and >5% annual cash yield from year 2.
Our scientific foundation includes validation by the University of Bonn (Prof. Dr. Ralf Pude) and the bio innovation park Rheinland e.V., with carbon verification to ISO 14064-2 by TÜV Austria.