Climate Standard methodologies · CRCF-aligned credits

Solid projects the CRCF does not cover

CRCF-aligned

Some projects measure carbon using CRCF rules but fall outside its scope: a plant the regulation does not cover, an activity started before 2023, or avoided emissions that the European methodologies do not count. Climate Standard certifies them as CRCF-aligned credits: field measurements, independent certification and every difference from the CRCF recorded in the registry.

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When a project is CRCF-aligned

Species not covered by the CRCF

Example: Bamboo, caper

Why it falls outside the CRCF: The plant is not among the species covered by European agroforestry rules, or is absent from the CRCF climate suitability tables.

Projects started before 2023

Example: A plantation established in 2020

Why it falls outside the CRCF: The CRCF accepts an activity already underway at application only if it started between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2027.

Avoided emissions not counted by European methodologies

Example: Precision farming: less diesel, variable-rate fertiliser

Why it falls outside the CRCF: European agricultural methodologies count carbon in soils and trees, and nitrous oxide from fertilisers only alongside soil or tree activities. Other reductions are not covered.

Other CRCF requirements

Example: New trees without a soil practice; soil not measured

Why it falls outside the CRCF: The project does not meet one methodology requirement, while the remaining requirements hold.

The CRCF is the EU framework for certifying carbon removals, Regulation (EU) 2024/3012. Its methodologies for agriculture and new forests were adopted by the European Commission in July 2026.

What stays the same and what changes

Same as the CRCF
  1. Carbon measured in the field under Climate Standard methodology measurement rules.
  2. An uncertainty deduction at least as large as the regulatory minimum.
  3. Contribution to the shared buffer against losses from fires, windthrow and pests.
  4. Checks by an independent certification body.
  5. An economic test: without credits, the project must yield less than the land use without the project.
  6. Every credit has its own code in the public registry.
Different from the CRCF
  1. A requirement the project does not meet is replaced by a written rule. For a project started before 2023, for example, carbon is credited from its start and measured retrospectively.
  2. The credits are not CRCF credits and will not enter the future EU registry.

How differences are declared

A CRCF-aligned credit always states where it differs from the CRCF. Buyers can read this in the registry before purchasing.

  1. 01

    Initial assessment

    Climate Standard checks whether the project can qualify under the CRCF. If one or more requirements exclude it while the rest hold, it can become CRCF-aligned.

  2. 02

    Written deviations

    The project plan gives every difference a code (S1, S2…), the CRCF requirement and the replacement rule.

  3. 03

    Public registry

    The project record shows the type “CRCF-aligned” and its deviations alongside documents and credits.

What these credits are

  1. 01

    Not CRCF credits

    They are Climate Standard credits labelled “CRCF-aligned” in the registry and certificate.

  2. 02

    Issued after measurement

    A credit is issued only after the carbon has been measured and checked by the certification body.

  3. 03

    With an end date

    For carbon stored in trees and soil, the credit lasts until the end of the monitoring period, as under the CRCF.

Does your project fall under the CRCF?

Soil carbon, agroforestry, fertiliser reductions and new forests on fields and grassland follow European CRCF rules. Existing forests can use methodologies based on the PEFC programme.

Explore CRCF activitiesPEFC forest activities

Documents

MethodologiesClimate Standard methodologies for the activity closest to your project (CS-GEN, CS-CF1a, CS-CF1b, CS-CF1c, CS-CF3)View documents
CRCF-aligned rulesEligibility, deviation catalogue and replacement rulesIn preparation
TemplatesCRCF-aligned activity plan, monitoring plan and reportProvided after the initial assessment

What it costs

No commission on credit sales. You receive a written quote before starting.

Do you have a project outside the CRCF?

Tell us about it. We will explain whether it can become CRCF-aligned and what must be declared.

Contact usCheck if you can generate credits