Absolute Climate has launched its first independent standard to define and evaluate carbon credit quality: the Absolute Carbon Standard (ACS). By decoupling standards from registries, this new benchmark establishes an industry-wide foundation to help the carbon market achieve gigatonne-level impact. To realise this vision of carbon markets focused on climate outcomes, Absolute Climate has partnered with C-Capsule, a carbon removal certification service from Evident, a leading registry provider for renewable energy and clean assets. With the launch of Absolute, they aim to deliver a comprehensive and top-tier crediting solution.
ACS is designed to be universally applicable across both voluntary and compliance markets. ACS addresses persistent issues around inconsistent credit quality, a challenge that has become increasingly significant as carbon markets take center stage in net-zero strategies.
“Right now, carbon credits vary widely in quality because each registry has its own methods, often prioritising volume over impact. This creates inconsistencies that undermine their real value,” explained Peter Minor, CEO and co-founder of Absolute Climate. “The Absolute Carbon Standard changes the game by offering a science-backed, independent benchmark for credit integrity. By remaining registry-independent, we eliminate conflicts of interest and ensure that carbon removal credits achieve real climate outcomes.”
This new standard emphasises transparency, consistency, and rigourous science at every stage of carbon removal—quantification, verification, and permanence. It allows buyers to compare projects fairly and enables developers to demonstrate the quality of their initiatives based on verified results, not market pressures.
Absolute Climate’s separation of standard-setting from credit issuance ensures that credits are aligned with climate outcomes rather than market dynamics. This approach lays the groundwork for trust and accountability, essential for scaling carbon removal solutions.
“The Absolute Carbon Standard represents a critical step in promoting transparency and credibility within the carbon removal market. By combining ACS’s universal and objective framework with C-Capsule’s flexible platform and Evident’s trusted registry services, we offer organisations a reliable pathway to meet their climate commitments with confidence,” said Ed Everson, CEO of Evident.
The carbon removal market has long been hindered by fragmented standards and market-driven incentives that compromise credit quality. Evident’s adoption of the Absolute Carbon Standard ensures that credits are issued with the rigour, transparency, and accountability required to meet industry expectations.
Evident will integrate the Absolute Carbon Standard into C-Capsule to verify and issue high-quality carbon credits. This partnership delivers scientifically robust credits, free from conflicts of interest, giving buyers confidence and providing developers with a dependable, quality-driven route to market.
Unlike registries focused on carbon removal, Evident’s broad market presence reduces risks and provides long-term stability. Its diversified portfolio across environmental markets positions it as a sustainable partner for buyers and project developers, ensuring resilience in the evolving carbon removal industry.
