The SOCIALCARBON Standard is a holistic approach, ensuring projects are embedded in local communities and biodiversity, to foster true permanence. 

What makes SOCIALCARBON different?

The SOCIALCARBON Standard is a holistic carbon standard. Projects using our standard go beyond just carbon, monitoring broader social and environmental impacts of their projects. This approach is backed by 15 years of experience facilitating nature-based solutions.

Our approach ensures projects monitor indicators bespoke to their local area. Project must monitor at least 18 indicators to track six sustainable livelihood resources.

The concept of the Standard was created using the knowledge gained from the Bananal Island Carbon Sequestration Project; a pilot sustainable development forestry project in Brazil in the late 90s. It became clear during this time that a carbon project must include the participation of the local people or it will not be sustainable in the long-term.

SOCIALCARBON® is an internationally registered trademark. The trademark communicates that emissions reductions/removals result from efforts that benefit and improve living conditions for stakeholders involved in climate change projects, in ways that strengthen their welfare and civic consciousness without degrading their resources base.

A credible standard focused on sustainable impact.

  • The first standard developed in the southern hemisphere

    The SOCIALCARBON was the first standard developed in the southern hemisphere and is designed based on real-world experience working within developing countries. As a result, its design is more flexible and responsive to the realities of developing countries.

  • Focused on sustainable impact, beyond just carbon

    The standard focuses on 6 resources ensuring projects consider impacts beyond just carbon, such as social and biodiversity impacts. In addition, projects must monitor contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

  • Local stakeholder focused

    It provides a view of the local reality of the project enabling all stakeholders to participate in the decision making process, meanwhile showing all stakeholders how sustainable development is being delivered.

Framework.

SOCIALCARBON’s theoretical framework is based on the Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA), a methodology used for planning the development of new initiatives as well as assessing the contribution that existing initiatives have made to sustaining livelihoods

“A livelihood is sustainable when it can cope with and recover from stresses and shocks and maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets both now and in the future, while not undermining the natural resource base.”

The six aspects of project sustainability assessed.

  • Biodiversity

    The combination of species, ecosystems and genes that form biological diversity. Relevant aspects of this component are: the integrity of natural communities, the way people use and interact with biodiversity, the degree of conservation, pressures and threats imposed on native species, and the existence of high-priority areas for conservation.

  • Natural

    The stock of natural resources (soil, water, air, etc.) and environmental services (soil protection, maintenance of hydrological cycles, pollution sinks, pest control, pollination, etc.), from which resources for livelihoods are derived.

  • Human

    Measurable skills, knowledge, professional qualifications and health and welfare.

  • Social

    Working networks, social duties, social relationships, affiliations, and associations.

  • Financial

    Basic capital in the form of cash, credit/debit and other economic goods which are available or may become available.

  • Carbon

    The type of carbon project developed, encompassing the methodologies utilized and project performance with respect to carbon removal / reduction.

Real impact at the local level.

  • "My people have learnt a lot about the importance of having community forests ,they know how to care for the forests without destruction, the projects such as drilling bore holes among others will help develop chiefdoms and other areas. Community sensitisations have helped change the mindset of my people"

    His Royal Highness Chief Kakoma, Zambia

  • "The project is helping people to protect our forest. Communities have been equipped with skills and knowledge which will be passed to the next generation."

    Nsanzhi Sebby Samuteba CFMG Secretary, Zambia

  • "Community members have learnt how to take care of natural resources such as trees and rivers. The projects being introduced will help to empower communities through creation of employment."

    Chingembu Vincent/ KCC coordinator Mwinilunga