We offer only diversified portfolios of high-integrity carbon credits. CNaught's due diligence process finds that only ~15% of projects in the market meet our quality standard.
We've built a rigorous, multi-layer diligence process that combines a thorough internal assessment with independent third-party evaluations from leading ratings agencies. Every project is highly rated by one of the four major rating agencies, ensuring we remain at the forefront of quality in the voluntary carbon market.
Our approach is aligned with current best practices from sources like the Stockholm Environment Institute and the GHG Management Institute's Offset Guide.
of projects in the market meet CNaught's strict quality standard
Every credit in a CNaught portfolio clears the full process below — passing project screening, four independent ratings agencies, and our own four-pillar evaluation.
Every project starts with three screening steps. A project must pass all three before it can advance to our quality evaluation.
We begin by verifying that all project documentation is complete, accurate, and publicly available. We ensure all essential information is transparent and accessible, requesting any missing elements directly from project developers when necessary.
We're one of the only providers who work with all four major independent ratings agencies. These agencies apply rigorous, science-based methodologies across additionality, over-crediting risk, permanence, and co-benefits, conducted by teams of subject-matter experts. We also check supporting sources like AlliedOffsets, CarbonPlan, and MSCI.
CNaught only purchases issued credits from projects highly rated by at least one of these four agencies. When agencies provide differing assessments, we analyze their methodologies to determine which is most appropriate for that specific project.
Every project undergoes a thorough individual review. A high third-party rating does not guarantee that a we will include a project because we conduct our own diligence.
Once we've reviewed a project's third-party assessments, we evaluate broader environmental, social, governance, and reputational risks. If there's any potential area of risk, we investigate and evaluate whether the project or developer has addressed it credibly.
Any unresolved or material reputational risk may result in exclusion from our portfolios.
Projects that pass screening are assessed across our four quality pillars, combining third-party data with our own internal review. Each project must be rated low risk across all four to be eligible — high risk in any one pillar means exclusion from our portfolios.
By combining the best available third-party assessments with our own internal expertise, every credit in our portfolios represents meaningful climate action — going beyond industry standards to deliver carbon credits you can trust to stand up to the highest levels of scrutiny.
Two nature-based reduction projects run through the same 7-step review. One clears every bar. The other doesn't, and never reaches your portfolio.
Nature-based Reduction
Nature-based ReductionAbout 15% of projects in the market meet CNaught’s quality standard.
CNaught evaluates projects that are issued under major standards and methodologies used in the voluntary carbon market, including projects reviewed through ratings and documentation tied to standards such as Verra, Gold Standard, Puro.earth, American Carbon Registry, Climate Action Reserve, and other widely used registries and certification programs.
One rating can miss differences in rating systems methodologies. Using BeZero, Calyx Global, Renoster, and Sylvera gives CNaught a broader view of project quality and helps it handle methodology disagreements more carefully.
Additionality means the carbon credit project would not likely happen without carbon credit revenue. CNaught checks financial, regulatory, and common-practice additionality.