What is the difference between Voluntary and Certified Emissions Reductions?
Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) are generated by emissions reduction projects registered under the Clean Development Mechanism (run by the UN), which was set up under the Kyoto Protocol as a means of meeting emissions caps that have been placed on industries with very high emissions. These CERs are predominantly meant for the mandatory compliance market although people who have opted to reduce their own emissions voluntarily can also purchase them. Verified Emission Reductions (VERs) are carbon credits which have been generated for the voluntary market. There are two main types of VER that are of interest to us at Eurostar: Voluntary Carbon Units (VCU) under the Voluntary Carbon Standard; and VERs from the Voluntary Gold Standard (VGS). Both of these standards meet Eurostar’s strict requirements to make sure the emissions reductions are of a credible quality and have been independently verified.
