The Carbon Crediting Data Framework

The Carbon Crediting Data Framework (CCDF) is a four-part toolkit (executive report, implementation spreadsheet, technical documentation, and JSON schema) created by RMI's Carbon Markets Initiative to address data fragmentation in the voluntary carbon market (VCM). The framework synthesizes requirements from over 160 sources to provide a common language for 570 individual data fields across 22 categories and 48 sub-categories. It organizes data into four tiers based on the project lifecycle: Pre-Registration (Tier 0), Validation (Tier 1), Verification (Tier 2), and Innovation & Ambition (Tier 3). The CCDF specifically integrates socio-environmental (SE) data as core benefits rather than optional add-ons, drawing on standards from international finance institutions and the UN. Early implementation by Centigrade demonstrates that the framework can reduce due diligence time and transaction costs, which can otherwise exceed $100,000 per project. RMI is also using the CCDF to support the Carbon Data Open Protocol (CDOP) in developing a unified VCM data schema.

• Data fragmentation in the VCM creates significant operational inefficiencies, with project developers spending up to 60% of their time managing duplicative data requests and buyers spending up to 18 months on due diligence for a single project.
• High data-related transaction costs in the VCM, including payments to lawyers, ratings agencies, and dMRV providers ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 per provider, can result in total costs exceeding $100,000 per project.
• The CCDF provides a standardized structure consisting of at least 570 individual data fields, organized into at least 22 categories and 48 sub-categories, based on a synthesis of more than 160 sources.
• The framework utilizes a four-tier structure aligned with the project lifecycle: Tier 0 for pre-registration and governance, Tier 1 for validation and forecasted data, Tier 2 for implementation and verification data, and Tier 3 for data-driven innovation and ambition.
• Unlike many reporting templates that treat socio-environmental (SE) impacts as optional, the CCDF embeds SE data as 'core benefits' and incorporates best practices from international finance institutions, the UN, and biodiversity credit markets.
• The CCDF's design is based on four principles: consistency in data structure, flexibility across project types, standardized metadata for interoperability, and adherence to specific data rules (typological, validation, and logic rules).
• Centigrade's implementation of the CCDF has been used to visualize climate impacts for 6 million credits across 25 projects, supporting at least 16 distinct VCM methodologies or project types.
• RMI is co-chairing the Carbon Data Open Protocol's (CDOP) Technical Working Group to harmonize 16 distinct schemas, including the CCDF, into a unified VCM schema, with an initial release of pre-registration data fields planned for the 2025 New York Climate Week.

APA

RMI (2025). The Carbon Crediting Data Framework. https://rmi.org/resources/carbon-crediting-data-framework/

Chicago

RMI. The Carbon Crediting Data Framework. 2025. https://rmi.org/resources/carbon-crediting-data-framework/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=The Carbon Crediting Data Framework |date=15 July 2025 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/carbon-crediting-data-framework/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2025carbon, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{The Carbon Crediting Data Framework}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/carbon-crediting-data-framework/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }