There are many types of climate protection projects – careful analysis is important

Understanding project types

Projects contribute to a net-zero environment by either avoiding or removing harmful emissions. Both types of projects play an important role in slowing the increase in emissions worldwide, but also in ridding the atmosphere of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gas emissions. Projects avoid CO₂ emissions when they switch from traditional energy sources (e.g., fossil fuels) to renewable energy sources (e.g., hydropower, wind power, solar power, biomass) or when they recover and destroy fugitive waste gases (e.g., methane from animal manure). CO₂ removal can occur naturally (e.g., through reforestation) or through technology (e.g., direct air capture machines), which actively filter CO₂ from the atmosphere.

Most common project types

Projects range from established methods, including improved forest management and REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), to newer project types, including nature-based (e.g., enhanced weathering) and technological (e.g., direct air capture) innovations. The most common types are:

• Agriculture: Improving and innovating traditional practices can prevent and reduce harmful emissions. This includes activities such as improving soil health (e.g., through biochar), reducing fertilizer use, and capturing methane emissions from livestock farming.

• Chemical processes: The focus is on reducing CO₂ emissions from the production of chemicals such as plastics and fertilizers. This includes the capture and reuse of CO₂ emissions (e.g., recovery and destruction of ozone-depleting substances).

• Direct Air Capture: Large vents filter CO₂ from the atmosphere and convert it into a solid state through a chemical reaction. The solid formation can be stored permanently. These projects can be expensive and technically difficult to implement, but innovation and increasing demand will make them an important pillar in the carbon market.

• Enhanced Weathering: This new method focuses on accelerating the natural process of CO₂ removal that occurs during rock decomposition (through the action of rain, wind, heat, and time). Grinding rock (e.g., basalt) into powder leads to faster decomposition by increasing the surface area and exposing the rock to rain and wind. This process captures CO₂ from the atmosphere and can occur inland (forests, fields, agriculture) or along coasts. In both cases, it is eventually washed into the oceans, where it sinks to the bottom as a solid rock formation.

• Forestry and land use: The goal of most projects is to expand and protect forestry, as trees actively remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. This was the most common project type in the past, but demand has declined as other project types can be more reliably certified.

• Household and community: Typical projects in this category focus on reducing firewood consumption by switching to more efficient stoves and clean water sources or by completely replacing firewood with energy from biogas plants.

• Industrial manufacturing: These projects focus on preventing CO₂ emissions by detecting leaks and repairing industrial gas systems, capturing exhaust gases, and capturing methane from mines.

• Renewable energy: Projects generate electricity from renewable sources such as solar, wind, or hydropower, reducing the need for fossil fuels and thus avoiding CO₂ emissions. Renewable energy projects can be particularly effective in areas without access to reliable electricity and can provide additional benefits such as job creation and economic development.

• Waste management: Landfill gas capture projects capture and incinerate methane emissions from landfills, reducing their greenhouse gas impact.

It's important that you carefully evaluate the characteristics and impacts of different types of carbon projects to ensure you're making a meaningful and effective contribution to climate action. Contact our team to discuss these topics in more detail or to review our selection of projects.