Types of carbon reduction projects: a comprehensive overview

Carbon reduction projects can either remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere or prevent carbon emissions from being released into the atmosphere.

They are eligible to generate carbon credits (1 carbon credit corresponds to 1 metric ton of CO₂ absorbed or reduced) and are exchanged through the Voluntary Carbon Market. 

It is not always easy not to get lost in all the different project typologies available and to select the one that fits best your company. ClimateSeed offers 7 different types of emission reduction projects generating carbon credits: 

1. Forestry and Land Use

Forestry and land use projects encompass a range of initiatives focused on sustainable management and utilization of forests and land resources.

These projects involve activities such as forest management planning, timber production, agroforestry practices, and land-use optimization. 

2. Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is energy that is natural and self-replenishing. These are energies that are alternatives to fossil fuel electricity and heat production.

This energy alternative can limit global greenhouse gas emissions as renewable energy is infinite, something that cannot run out and emits zero emissions.

3. Household & Community Devices 

A household and community devices project centers around benefiting local communities, using their knowledge and having them involved in the decision making processes.

These projects have benefits that are more than just avoiding carbon emissions.

4. Blue Carbon

Blue carbon projects refer to Wetlands Restoration and Conservation (WRC) projects dedicated to protecting, rehabilitating, and conserving wetland ecosystems, including marshes, swamps,  peatlands, and other ocean and coastal ecosystems. 

These projects focus on restoring hydrological patterns, conserving biodiversity, and enhancing ecosystem services provided by wetlands.

5. Waste Management

Waste management projects focus on how we handle waste to minimize its impact on the environment and on human health. Instead of treating waste as the last part of the production chain, these projects are working with the waste to create sources of energy, reduce pollution and reduce carbon emissions. These projects adopt a more circular approach to climate solutions.

6. Agricultural Land Management

An agriculture project involves removing carbon from the atmosphere and sequestering it in the soil. Plants and crops make up part of the carbon cycle as they use CO₂ from the air during photosynthesis. When the plants and crops decompose, some of the CO₂ is stored in the ground and some is released back into the atmosphere.

By creating agricultural management activities such as no-till farming and planting cover crops, these projects can slow the rate of soil carbon loss and become better carbon sinks.

7. Transportation

The transportation sector is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions primarily come from burning fossil fuel for our vehicles, ships, trains and planes.

While transport currently has a big reliance on fossil fuels compared to other sectors, there are carbon projects that are helping to reduce emissions and promote sustainable ways of working, thinking and development; in a fast-paced world, these projects help develop sustainable transport changes in both urban and rural areas.

All these projects capture and/or avoid GHG emissions, but generally also have strong social and environmental impacts, targeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

To learn more about climate contributions, read our specific article. 

Contact us to discover our premium carbon portfolio of more than 30 projects in over 20 countries.