Why Verification Matters
Each project we support aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—17 interconnected priorities focused on ending poverty, reducing inequity, tackling climate change, and preventing environmental degradation. “They’re guiding principles for what good sustainable development looks like in its truest form,” says Court. “They reflect the big-picture challenges we need to address in order to survive as a species in the long run.” The SDGs encompass a wide range of issues, from clean drinking water and food security to building infrastructure and inclusive societies.
When selecting projects, we prioritize those that check the box on as many SDGs as possible. A project that builds solar power plants in a community reliant on imported fossil fuels doesn’t just combat climate change and create a clean energy source, it also provides education and employment opportunities for local people, leading to economic growth and security.
The projects we invest in are also meticulously monitored using scientific models to determine how much carbon they reduce over time, Court explains. And just as important, projects are independently evaluated by a third-party verification entity to ensure their impact is credible. “It’s kind of like the tax man,” he says. “They come in to make sure you did your math right.”
There’s also the question of greenwashing, which inevitably comes up in conversations about sustainability and carbon offsetting best practices. “The overall idea is transparency, accuracy, and being careful not to overstate positive effects,” says Court. “The ultimate solution is, of course, decarbonization, but it comes back to doing what we can, when we can, with what we have—and offsetting is a great tool at our current disposal.”
