Eight questions to ask anyone selling you carbon credits

Legitimate sellers of carbon credits expect questions and answer them in writing. Sellers running a scheme tend to change the subject, add urgency or talk about returns. Here are the questions we would ask, in roughly the order we would ask them.

1. Which registry, and what is the project ID?

You need both to look the credits up yourself. If the seller can't or won't give them, stop there.

2. Which methodology and version does the project use?

Methodologies get revised when problems are found. An old version is not automatically bad, but you should know which one you are buying.

3. What is the vintage?

The vintage is the year the reduction or removal happened. Very old vintages are often cheap for a reason. Future vintages are promises, not credits.

4. Do the credits carry a CCP label?

The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market labels credits that come from approved programs and methodologies. A missing label is not proof of a problem, but the seller should be able to explain why it is missing.

5. Where is the latest verification report?

On the major registries, verification reports are public. A seller should send a link, not a summary.

6. Will the credits be retired in my name, and when?

The answer you want is yes, soon after payment, with serial numbers and a link to the retirement record on the registry.

7. What exactly am I paying per tonne, and what is your margin?

Retailers add a margin, and that is normal. A seller who won't state a price per tonne, or whose price is many times higher than other retailers charge for similar credits, deserves more scrutiny.

8. Can I resell these later?

This is a test question. A seller selling credits to offset should say there is no point reselling credits you plan to retire. A seller who says yes, or who talks about price growth, is selling an investment story. Read our scams guide before you go further.

The checklist on our homepage covers the same ground and gives you a verdict on the answers you get.

Independent educational guide, relaunched in 2026. Not affiliated with Vida Carbon Corp, Vida Energy or any carbon-credit seller. Nothing here is investment advice.