Connecting Carbon Markets: A guide to the Core Carbon Principles
A practical introduction to carbon markets and the Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) — the global threshold for high-integrity carbon credits.
Carbon markets are an important tool to help scale climate action. But they only work if they are built on trust, transparency and high integrity. This guide explains how carbon markets operate, how carbon credits are created, and how the CCPs set a global threshold for quality.
Get updates on future CCP Guide Modules:
CCP Guide Interest
A data capture form for the CCP guide pages, for those who are interested in future updates.
Why high-integrity carbon markets matter
National climate plans alone are not enough to deliver the level of action needed to address climate change. Public funding cannot meet the full scale of investment required. Mobilising private finance is essential.
High-integrity carbon markets can help channel finance towards effective climate mitigation activities. But this requires clear rules, credible standards and strong oversight. This guide explains how those elements work together.
What you will learn
This first module provides a clear, accessible introduction to carbon markets and the CCPs. Learn how…
Key takeaways
In this guide, you will learn:
Understand the basics of carbon markets and how they support climate action.
Learn what makes a carbon credit credible, reliable and trusted.
Learn how the Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) define a global threshold for quality.
Get a simple overview of how programs and methodologies are assessed.
Understand how strong standards increase confidence and support market growth.
See how different stakeholders can use the CCPs in real-world decisions.
Who this guide is for
This guide is designed for a wide range of stakeholders working in or engaging with carbon markets.
Governments and policymakers
Understand how to design or scale carbon markets and apply consistent integrity standards.
Corporate users and market participants
Make informed decisions on the use of high-integrity carbon credits.
Civil society and researchers
Engage with carbon markets using clear, transparent information on how they operate.
About the Integrity Council
The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (the Integrity Council) sets a global threshold standard for high-integrity carbon credits through the Core Carbon Principles.
It assesses carbon-crediting programs and methodologies against this threshold to support transparency, consistency and confidence across carbon markets.
Download the CCP Guide
Get a clear, practical introduction to carbon markets and the Core Carbon Principles.
Get updates on future CCP Guide Modules:
CCP Guide Interest
A data capture form for the CCP guide pages, for those who are interested in future updates.