APAC 2 IMPACT

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Government cooperation

Why should governments not begin with carbon promises?

Direct answer

Governments should not begin with carbon promises because not every project qualifies for carbon credits, and attaching public credibility to an unvetted carbon claim creates risk. Starting with feasibility questions — additionality, methodology, scale, monitoring cost, registry risk — protects the government before any promise is made.

Carbon credits can be valuable. But the language of carbon is often used before anyone has checked whether a project actually qualifies. For a government, that ordering is dangerous.

The risk of leading with carbon

  • Not every climate project is additional, or has a valid methodology
  • Monitoring, verification, and registry costs can outweigh the credits
  • A public carbon claim that later collapses damages credibility
  • Premature promises can crowd out better, more realistic pathways

A better starting sequence

Assess the real need first. Screen whether the technology fits. Then ask the early feasibility questions — additionality, methodology fit, project scale, baseline, monitoring cost, and registry risk — before any carbon representation is made.

APAC 2 IMPACT supports governments in asking these questions first, so credibility is protected and the pathway stays honest.

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