{"id":13472,"date":"2024-06-04T12:44:25","date_gmt":"2024-06-04T16:44:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/solutionswill.com\/?p=13472"},"modified":"2025-05-07T15:01:41","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T19:01:41","slug":"deciphering-the-additionality-of-carbon-credits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/solutionswill.com\/en\/deciphering-the-additionality-of-carbon-credits\/","title":{"rendered":"Deciphering the Additionality of Carbon Credits"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”3px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#29524A” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

In the urgent search for solutions to global warming, the concept of additionality is emerging as an innovative tool for assessing the real impact of environmental projects. But what exactly is additionality? This complex concept is often shrouded in various interpretations and definitions. In this article, we take an in-depth look at the concept of additionality, focusing in particular on its application to carbon credits.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Understanding additionality: introduction and definitions ” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ title_font=”|700|||||||” title_text_color=”#29524A” title_font_size=”28px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”What is additionality?” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_font=”|700|||||||” title_text_color=”#F04E2A” title_font_size=”24px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#29524A” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

It’s important to point out that there is not one, but several definitions of additionality.<\/p>\n

Indeed, its common meaning, the French Language dictionary defines additionality as<\/a><\/span><\/strong> a \u201cnet positive consequence of an intervention; influence of an intervention on the course of a process<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moreover, in an impact financing context, additionality refers to \u201ca positive impact or outcome that would not have occurred without additional resources or investment<\/em>\u201d, according to the AllNews media<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

In other words, it establishes a causal link between two variables, with positive impact.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Additionality in the world of carbon credits ” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_font=”|700|||||||” title_text_color=”#F04E2A” title_font_size=”24px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#29524A” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Among voluntary carbon markets, there are various definitions of additionality. One of the most commonly cited is the definition of the ICVCM<\/strong> <\/span><\/a>(the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market) and its ‘Core Carbon Principles<\/em>‘: \u201cGreenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions or removals resulting from mitigation activity must be additional, i.e. they would not have occurred in the absence of the incentive created by carbon credit revenues<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inside the carbon credit world, the additionality test is important, as it provides a concept for establishing causality between revenues from the sale of carbon credits and the project that generates them.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”What’s the point of carbon additionality? ” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_font=”|700|||||||” title_text_color=”#F04E2A” title_font_size=”24px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#29524A” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

The aim is to demonstrate that the purchase of carbon credits from a carbon project actually creates positive impacts for the project and the project developer. Notably, by contributing financially to the reduction or sequestration of tonnes of GHGs. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”How do you measure the additionality of a carbon project? ” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_font=”|700|||||||” title_text_color=”#F04E2A” title_font_size=”24px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/solutionswill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Mesurer-ladditionnalite-scaled.webp” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” width=”59%” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#29524A” text_font_size=”16px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

The ways of demonstrating additionality are numerous and vary according to GHG programs and projects. There are several reasons for this. Programs may or may not develop their own standardized method, different project types and the applicability of criteria, geographical territories and their regulatory and local specificities.<\/p>\n

Some programs, such as Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard<\/em> (VCS), have developed standardized methods, but these do not apply to all project types. Consequently, the alternative of determining additionality on a project-by-project basis remains open, which explains the diversity of approaches.<\/p>\n

Will Solutions Sustainable Communities (WILL) are projects registered with the VCS program. This program provides for three methods of demonstrating additionality: an \u201cactivity<\/strong>\u201d method, a \u201cperformance<\/strong>\u201d method and a \u201cproject<\/strong>\u201d method.<\/p>\n

In our new amended Sustainable Communities methodology, we use both the activity<\/strong> method and the project<\/strong> method to measure project additionality. We have also chosen to demonstrate that the Sustainable Community is a first in its territory (additionality of the grouped project, which is an innovation in itself). Subsequently, we use specific approach for the additionality of the micro-projects that develop within it. Consequently, we need to aim towards<\/strong> additionality rather than ticking boxes on an evaluation grid that is fixed in time and space, because it is not.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Limits and challenges of additionality ” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_font=”|700|||||||” title_text_color=”#F04E2A” title_font_size=”24px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#29524A” text_font_size=”16px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Demonstrating additionality can be difficult. Explicitly, no single test is suitable for all circumstances, as projects may differ in nature (e.g. tree planting, waste reduction, energy efficiency, renewable energies, etc.) as well as in specific characteristics (northern or southern hemisphere projects, bundled or single projects, ex-post or ex-ante projects, etc.). Finally, as we have seen above, it is a methodological concept that involves a certain degree of flexibility, and there is no consensus. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Meeting additionality criteria with Will Sustainable Solutions Communities ” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ title_font=”|700|||||||” title_text_color=”#29524A” title_font_size=”28px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Project methodology and additionality testing ” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_font=”|700|||||||” title_text_color=”#F04E2A” title_font_size=”24px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#29524A” text_font_size=”16px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

WILL attaches great importance to additionality in its Sustainable Communities<\/strong> group discount projects. Here are the Sustainable Communities projects managed by WILL:<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”1px||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/solutionswill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Quels-criteres-pour-ladditionnalite-des-projets-carbone-scaled.webp” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#29524A” text_font_size=”16px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n