Data Standardization
Standardizing Carbon Credit Data
In 2022, the CDSC recommended that in developing an open data utility for climate transition-related data, it would be important to include information on companies’ use of carbon credits.
However, carbon credit data is recorded in varying formats across market participants, life-cycle stages, and market segments. This lack of standardization limits interoperability between systems, hindering market transparency and integrity. It also makes it more difficult for buyers to assess quality and compare credits, limiting transparency and confidence across the market, and limiting the ability to report credit use in a consistent manner.
Supporting the G20’s Sustainable Finance Working Group
Under the South African G20 Presidency, the Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) identified unlocking the financing potential of carbon markets as one of its three priorities for 2025, with a particular focus on improving carbon credit data standardization.
As the Lead Knowledge Partner for this priority, the Climate Data Steering Committee (CDSC) oversaw the development of the Common Carbon Credit Data Model (CCCDM) to support standardization of key data fields across the carbon credit lifecycle and carbon market segments in line with public policy principles set by the G20 SFWG and with feedback from G20 member countries.
In July and August of 2025, the CDSC ran a public consultation on the draft Data Model to gather feedback from a range of market participants, including policymakers, registries, standard bodies, investors, buyers and other market participants. The consultation took place over five weeks and received nearly 60 responses from participants working across the carbon market life cycle and a broad range of geographies.
Feedback from this consultation informed the development of Version 2.0 of the Data Model [link to the Data Model], which was presented to the SFWG at its 4th meeting on 29 September 2025 where the CDSC Secretariat was encouraged to pilot the Data Model with interested jurisdictions and market participants.
“We take note of the potential of high-integrity, voluntary, private-sector led carbon markets, including by promoting interoperability, accessibility, transparency and scalability. We note the efforts by the Climate Data Steering Committee to develop principles aimed towards building a Common Carbon Credit Data Model, as a voluntary tool.”
Communiqué of the Third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting
July 2025, Durban, South Africa
The Common Carbon Credit Data Model
The Common Carbon Credit Data Model (CCCDM) identifies the core data fields that are important across the carbon credit life cycle and makes recommendations on how to standardize them. The CCCDM is intended to serve as a voluntary resource to support data standardization that a broad set of public and private sector stakeholders can use as they develop approaches to recording and sharing carbon credit data.
Key features of the model include:
- A life cycle structure to reflect the carbon credit life cycle, from project design to retirement
- A system of unique identifiers to support tracking credits across market participants and through their entire life cycle
- An identified set of foundational data fields and a suggested approach to standardizing the data fields
- Full replication of the Paris Agreement’s Article 6.2 Agreed Electronic Format (AEF), aligned with the UNFCC’s negotiated outcomes*
You can access Version 2.0 of the Data Model as well as accompanying resources below.
*Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism fields to be added when the registry infrastructure is finalized.
Resources
Access the updated Data Model
In October, the CDSC published an updated version of the Common Carbon Credit Data Model, as presented to the SFWG at their 4th meeting on 29 September 2025.
Read the summary of consultation responses
Following a public consultation run between 4 July and 12 August, the CDSC published a summary of feedback received and an overview of how feedback has been incorporated into Version 2.0 of the Data Model.
Read the Chair’s Summary of the 4th Finance Ministers & Central Bank Governors Meeting
The 4th FMCBG Chairs Summary noted the Common Carbon Credit Data Model and the Climate Data Steering Committee’s plans to pilot the CCCDM with willing stakeholders and market participants.
Read the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group Report
The G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) published its report in October 2025, following the 4th meeting of the South African G20 Presidency’s SFWG members. The report welcomes the Data Model.
Access the Technical Consultative Note
This note was published during the public consultation to accompany the draft Data Model for public consultation and explain its technical features. The note reflects version 1.0 of the Data Model and refers to fields that may have been amended in response to consultation feedback.
