Carbon neutrality

The Paris Agreement calls for a global economy with zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to achieve ‘Carbon Neutrality’. This means that greenhouse gas emissions must be equal to or less than the emissions removed through absorption/substitution and requisition. 

Organisations that want to be leaders in this effort must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, as well as those of their value chain, to zero as quickly as possible. 

To make immediate claims  about their commitment to Carbon Neutrality, Organizations can use carbon credits to offset unabated emissions of greenhouse gases. This requires meeting certain hierarchy of actions and quality requirements of carbon credits. 

Service Details 

Organizations can follow a standardized path, principles, and requirements on Carbon Neutrality by using the following standards or programs as a reference:

• ISO 14068 Climate change management — Transition to net zero —Part 1: Carbon neutrality 
• PAS 2060 - Specification for the demonstration of carbon neutrality 
• RINA “GO 2 CARB0N NEUTRAL” programme 
• GHG programmes prepared by the organization itself 
• ISO 14021 Environmental labels and declarations - Self-declared environmental claims (Type II environmental labelling) 

RINA can support organisations in their efforts towards Carbon Neutrality through several means: 

• Ex ante validation of the carbon neutrality management plan: a systematic, independent and documented process an opinion on the plausibility of the actions and initiatives designed to reduce greenhouse gases. 
• Ex post verification reporting and/or achievement of Carbon Neutrality: a systematic, independent and documented process an opinion on the on the actual reduction of greenhouse gases and the completion of planned actions, normally carried out for compliance with criteria and requirements defined in the previously validated carbon neutrality management plan.  
• Crtification of the organizations’ continuous and improvement-oriented commitment to achievinge and demonstratinge Carbon Neutrality. 

Why RINA? 

RINA has extensive experience in the field of sustainability and is accredited and recognised by the accreditation bodies that own the main certification schemes in the area of sustainability. 

RINA is a DOE (Designated Operational Entity) accredited by UNFCCC to conduct validation and verification of CDM projects. We are also recognised by VERRA and the GOLD STANDARD FOUNDATION for the validation and verification of VCS and GS4GG projects, respectively. Additionally, RINA is accredited by Accredia for verification according to Directive 2003/87/EC for the EU ETS.