This page defines concepts used in Certify, and the Certify API, which are helpful to understand when submitting information for verification via Certify. For a broader understanding of Isometric’s verification processes on the Isometric Registry, please refer to the Isometric Standard.

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Resource visibility

  • Until resources are submitted as part of a GHG statement, they are visible only to members of your organization.
  • After statement submission, they are visible to the verifier assigned to the GHG statement.
  • Once credits have been issued, removals are added to the public registry, and associated resources are visible publicly, with the exception of source documents.
  • Sources uploaded in the Certify platform are kept private by default once published on the Isometric registry (file names will be displayed). Contact Isometric to update public source visibility. Sources added via the API can be set public on submission.

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Resources

The main resources used in Certify are sources, datapoints, components and removals.

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Sources

  • Sources represent a piece of evidence for a particular datapoint used in carbon accounting calculations.
  • Source documents are private, and only shared with the verifier assigned to a related removal.
  • Other information associated with a source, such as its display name, is visible publicly once the removal is on the public registry.
  • Verifiers are not notified when new sources are added to datapoints in a submitted removal, but they will immediately have access to the source documentation. Please notify the Isometric Registry Operations team when sources are added on a verifier’s request so that we can ensure that the verifier is aware.

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Datapoints

  • Datapoints represent any value used in carbon accounting calculations.
  • When creating datapoint, sources should be referenced to provide evidence for the value used.
  • A standard deviation should be provided if the datapoint is to be included in the variance propagation method of uncertainty analysis.
  • All datapoints are considered statistically independent for the purpose of variance propagation, although if a datapoint is used twice within a removal calculation, this dependence is captured.

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Components

  • Components represent physical activities whose CO₂e flux needs to be accounted for.
  • Components are created from component blueprints that contain sets of equations used to calculate a transfer of CO₂e into or out of the atmosphere.
  • A blueprint defines a set of inputs that are the datapoints to be used in the calculation. For instance, a transport emissions blueprints would ask for datapoints representing a distance, mass and carbon intensity.
  • When creating a component from a blueprint, the blueprint must be specified, as well as a list of datapoints for the expected blueprint inputs. Learn more about components in Identifying Components.

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Removals

  • Removals represent a series of activities that result in CO₂e being removed from the atmosphere.
  • The carbon accounting of a removal typically contains sequestrations, counterfactuals and activities (emissions).
  • Removals are structured using a template, defined in your LCA.
  • Templates are divided into component groups. For instance, a biochar template may contain a Feedstock sourcing group.
  • Groups can contain multiple components.
  • Components can also be partially attributed to removals, if the activity the component represents contributed to multiple removals.
  • The final uncertainty discounting is done on the removal level - the API will return the CO₂e removed with and without discounting.
  • See the Create a removal guide for more details.

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Feedstock types

  • Many carbon removal methods involve a feedstock, for instance biomass feedstock in BiCRS or silicate rock in enhanced weathering.
  • Feedstock types are used to describe the feedstock used in a removal.
  • When creating a removal, a feedstock type can be optionally specified so that Isometric and verifiers can see which removals use which feedstocks.
  • This is important if different feedstocks are used in a single GHG statement.
  • See the Add feedstock guide for more details.

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