Five dimensions. One honest verdict.
Every credit on CarbSet is assessed on five independent dimensions. The composite grade, from AAA to D, follows the same financial-grade convention used by BeZero Carbon, Sylvera, and Calyx Global.
The five dimensions
Additionality
Would the emission reduction have occurred without the project?
Evidence: Independent additionality review, baseline methodology report
Permanence
How durable is the emission reduction over time?
Evidence: Buffer pool account, permanence risk rating, reversal mechanism
Measurement accuracy
How precisely are emissions quantified?
Evidence: Monitoring, Reporting, Verification (MRV) plan, third-party audit
Co-benefits
Does the project deliver verifiable social and ecological benefits?
Evidence: CCBS or Gold Standard certification, community benefit evidence
Verification rigour
How independently has the project been audited?
Evidence: Validation or verification body credentials, audit report
The grading scale
| Grade | Score range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| AAA | 90 to 100 | Exceptional evidence across all five dimensions |
| AA | 80 to 89 | Strong evidence; minor documentation gaps acceptable |
| A | 70 to 79 | Good evidence; some dimensions not fully documented |
| BBB | 60 to 69 | Adequate evidence; meaningful gaps in one or two dimensions |
| BB | 50 to 59 | Mixed evidence; important questions unresolved |
| B | 40 to 49 | Weak evidence; significant documentation failures |
| CCC | 30 to 39 | Very weak evidence; most dimensions poorly supported |
| D | 0 to 29 | Fails to meet minimum standards |
Provisional and verified assessments
A provisional assessment means the platform team has reviewed available registry documentation and assigned scores. A verified assessment means a qualified independent verifier has confirmed the scores with at least one piece of evidence per dimension. In Phase 1, all assessments begin as provisional. Provisional grades are shown clearly labelled: “Provisional: not yet independently verified.” A verified badge only appears when all five dimensions have confirmed evidence.
Not yet independently verified. Scores reflect the platform team's review of registry documentation.
A verified grade. Every dimension has confirmed evidence from a qualified independent verifier.
The public trust record
Every credit has a permanent, publicly accessible trust record. No account is required. This is the institutional verification surface: a journalist, auditor, or regulator can check any credit's quality record without creating an account.
Explore the quality index →