Purchasing Carbon Credits in Alberta

Once you’ve chosen a project in Alberta, you can purchase the carbon credits from the project developer. Purchasing Carbon Credits is a great way for your business to offset their greenhouse gas emissions.

In order to get the carbon credits from a project, it's important to ensure that the carbon credits you purchase are verified and certified by a recognized carbon standard. Certification ensures that the emissions reductions are accurately measured and that the project’s impact is independently verified. 

In Alberta, emission offsets are generated by projects that have voluntarily reduced their greenhouse gas emissions. Emission offsets are quantified using Alberta-approved methodologies called quantification protocols, and are verified by a third party in accordance with the Standard for Validation, Verification and Audit.

Emission offset projects must meet the requirements in the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) regulation, the Standard for Greenhouse Gas Emission Offset Project Developers, and a relevant Alberta-approved quantification protocol.

Alberta emission offsets are registered and publicly listed on the Alberta Emission Offset Registry currently operated by CSA Group.

To ensure that your carbon credit purchase is valid, you can visit the Government of Alberta’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) regulation page to see if the project meets government requirements .

Using or Retiring Carbon Credits. 

After purchasing carbon credits, you have the option to “retire” them. This means that the credits are officially “used” to offset your business’s emissions. Retiring the credits prevents the credits from being resold or used by others. To learn more, see How to Use Your Carbon Offset Credits.