ESG practices
How to implement credible carbon removal procurement strategies that prioritize high quality methods with transparent monitoring and permanence safeguards.
This guide explains how organizations can design credible carbon removal procurement programs that emphasize high quality methods, open reporting, measurable impact, long-term permanence, and robust monitoring to ensure climate benefits endure.
Published by
Mark Bennett
August 11, 2025 - 3 min Read
To begin building credible carbon removal procurement, organizations should clearly define objectives that align with broader climate goals and fiduciary responsibilities. Start by identifying the targeted decarbonization pathway, whether it’s hard-to-abate sectors, product life cycles, or corporate Scope 3 emissions. Develop a rigorous selection framework that weighs permanence, verifiability, and co-benefits alongside cost. Establish internal governance that includes cross-functional stakeholders—sustainability, procurement, finance, and risk management—to approve strategies, monitor performance, and adjust contracts as science and markets evolve. This foundation ensures that every procurement decision has explicit rationale, measurable outcomes, and accountability across the enterprise.
A strong procurement framework requires transparent criteria for choosing credible carbon removal providers. Map prerequisites such as third-party verification, robust baselines, and demonstrated leakage control. Demand published project designs with detailed MRV—measurement, reporting, and verification—covering facility location, methodology, and project longevity. Require third-party audits or certification against recognized standards to reduce ambiguity about claims. Include alignment with local community interests and environmental justice considerations. Finally, implement a public notification process for selections and contract terms, so stakeholders can assess risk, challenge assumptions, and contribute to ongoing improvement in methodology and governance.
Transparent supplier due diligence and credible performance metrics.
The procurement journey should begin with rigorous scoping that translates carbon removal objectives into concrete performance requirements. Clarify the type of removal—biochar, mineralization, enhanced weathering, or nature-based solutions—and the expected duration of sequestration. Define performance milestones tied to credible metrics, such as tons of CO2 removed per year, location-based accounting, and permanence horizons. Incorporate risk controls for non-permanence, like buffer pools or contractual price adjustments tied to verifiable outcomes. Outline enforceable terms that ensure failures trigger remediation, scaling commitments, or financial penalties. A well-scoped framework reduces ambiguity and sets clear expectations for suppliers and internal teams alike.
Equally important is crafting a transparent supplier assessment process that screens for capability and integrity. Evaluate track records, governance structures, financial resilience, and compliance histories. Require suppliers to disclose ownership, governance changes, and potential conflicts of interest. Assess data security, IP protection, and the ability to provide near-real-time monitoring dashboards. Probe for evidence of community engagement and environmental safeguards during project development. Build a risk map that identifies geopolitical, regulatory, and litigation exposures, then assign risk owners and contingency plans. Transparent supplier due diligence builds confidence among stakeholders and ensures responsible behavior across the supply chain.
Open data, interoperable systems, and verifiable reporting.
Once suppliers are vetted, craft contract terms that align incentives with verified outcomes and long-term impacts. Use milestone-based payments tied to independent verification, not merely project announcements. Include clauses that mandate ongoing monitoring, annual reporting, and documentation of any changes in operational practices that could affect permanence. Ensure enforceable remedies for non-delivery, underperformance, or leakage. Design flexibility into contracts to accommodate evolving science and regulatory updates without sacrificing credibility. Clarify data ownership, access rights, and audit frequency. A strong commercial framework protects both buyers and sellers while advancing credible climate outcomes.
Data accessibility is central to credible carbon removal. Require suppliers to publish open datasets or provide machine-readable dashboards detailing methodology, baselines, and verification activities. Promote standardized reporting formats that enable cross-project comparability and independent scrutiny. Establish a cadence for public updates, including quarterly or biannual summaries of performance, risk assessments, and corrective actions. Invest in interoperable MRV systems and digital traceability to prevent double counting and enhance trust. When data gaps arise, use conservative assumptions and transparent explanations to preserve integrity and stakeholder confidence.
Diversify portfolios with durable, verifiable removal approaches.
Beyond data, governance structures must embed permanence safeguards into every contract. Permanence guarantees should address the real possibility of carbon re-releasing, requiring time-bound stewardship commitments of land, minerals, or engineered materials. Create reserve pools or buffer accounts that can absorb underperformance or non-permanence events. Tie penalties or compensating removals to the occurrence of deemed reversals and ensure funds are dedicated to high-integrity activities. Establish independent oversight bodies or third-party custodians to audit permanence metrics and provide annual attestations. By placing permanence at the core of procurement, organizations reduce long-term risk and reinforce credible climate impact.
Designing credible permanence safeguards also means accelerating portfolio diversification. Avoid dependence on a single method or project type that could be vulnerable to systemic shocks. Instead, assemble a mixed portfolio spanning high-quality nature-based solutions, durable engineered removals, and technically validated processes with clear permanence pathways. Track correlation between projects and geographic exposure to minimize correlated risks such as policy shifts or climatic disturbances. Regularly review the portfolio’s balance against evolving scientific consensus and regulatory expectations. A diversified approach enhances resilience and the likelihood of sustaining genuine carbon removals over decades.
Collaboration, standardization, and policy alignment reinforce credibility.
Monitoring and verification must be continuous, not episodic. Implement governance processes that require ongoing third-party verification and independent audits at stated intervals. Design a monitoring protocol that captures operational changes, performance drift, and potential leakage, then update risk assessments accordingly. Use data science to detect anomalies, validate models, and forecast permanence scenarios. Maintain transparent incident logs and corrective action plans accessible to stakeholders. Establish a culture of learning where findings from monitoring activities drive iterative improvements in project design, verification techniques, and contract terms. Solid monitoring builds enduring credibility and trust in the procurement process.
In practice, credible procurement also relies on sector-wide collaboration and standardized benchmarks. Participate in industry coalitions that promote common MRV standards and shared datasets. Contribute to transparent registries of carbon removal projects with verifiable history, performance, and permanence indicators. Support capacity-building efforts in jurisdictions with emerging markets to ensure compliance and reduce verification costs. When possible, align procurement with policy signals and tax incentives that reward verifiable, high-integrity removals. Collective action helps to raise overall quality and accelerate climate benefits while reducing market fragmentation.
Building a credible procurement program requires ongoing governance, training, and culture change. Educate internal teams about the science of removal, the limits of permanence, and the importance of credible verification. Provide practical playbooks for procurement professionals that translate technical criteria into actionable sourcing steps, negotiation levers, and risk controls. Offer ongoing training on data interpretation, contract law, and stakeholder engagement to strengthen competence across the organization. Invest in change management to align incentives, reward responsible behavior, and sustain attention to ethical and transparent practices. A learning-oriented approach reinforces long-term credibility and integrity.
To conclude, credible carbon removal procurement is not a one-time decision but a sustained program of diligence, transparency, and adaptation. By articulating clear objectives, enforcing rigorous supplier screening, linking payments to verified outcomes, and embedding permanence safeguards, organizations can procure removals with confidence. Publicly shared data, robust MRV, diversified portfolios, and policy-aligned partnerships further strengthen impact and resilience. This approach reduces risk of greenwashing and increases the likelihood that climate benefits endure. As markets mature, continuous improvement will be essential to uphold credibility and drive meaningful decarbonization across sectors.
