Clean Energy 101: Book and Claim - RMI

This guide explains the 'book and claim' model, a chain of custody system designed to decarbonize heavy industry and transport by decoupling the environmental benefits of low-emissions fuels and materials from their physical delivery.

• Heavy industry and transport, including steel, concrete, aviation, and shipping, are significant contributors to climate change, accounting for nearly 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions annually.
• The 'book and claim' model allows producers to 'book' emissions savings in one location while customers 'claim' those benefits for climate disclosures in another, bypassing the need for physical offtake when it is prohibitively complex or unavailable.
• In the aviation sector, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 99 percent, but it currently costs two to five times more than fossil-based jet fuel. Book and claim systems use certificates (SAFc) to allow corporate buyers to fund the price premium, incentivizing airlines to switch fuels and encouraging suppliers to scale production.
• To maintain accountability and prevent double counting, book and claim systems require a foundation of independent verification (such as RSB or ISCC standards), a registry to track ownership and retirement of certificates, and adherence to reporting guidelines from entities like the Smart Freight Centre and Clean Skies for Tomorrow.
• Several initiatives are implementing these systems: the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA) has facilitated joint SAFc purchases, and the Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) aims to pool corporate demand for shipping. Additionally, RMI, the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Danish Shipping, and Mærsk Oil Trading have designed a maritime book and claim system moving toward a pilot phase.

APA

RMI (2023). Clean Energy 101: Book and Claim - RMI. https://rmi.org/resources/clean-energy-101-book-and-claim/

Chicago

RMI. Clean Energy 101: Book and Claim - RMI. 2023. https://rmi.org/resources/clean-energy-101-book-and-claim/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Clean Energy 101: Book and Claim - RMI |date=30 May 2023 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/clean-energy-101-book-and-claim/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2023clean, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Clean Energy 101: Book and Claim - RMI}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/clean-energy-101-book-and-claim/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }