Name of Program

Tradable Unit Name and Acronym

Participants/Buyers

Unit of Measurement

Offset Registry Information

Kyoto offset mechanisms

Clean Development Mechanism

Certified Emissions Reduction (CER)

Public and private entities in Annex-1 countries; other entities may use/retire them under voluntary offset programs

metric ton

UNFCCC CDM Statistics

Joint Implementation

Emissions Reduction Unit (ERU)

Same as CDM

metric ton

UNFCCC JI Statistics

Mandatory cap-and-trade systems

Alberta-Based GHG Reduction Program

Alberta-based offset credit

Compliance entities in the province

metric ton

Alberta Emissions Offset Registry

Australian Carbon Pollution Abatement Scheme

Under development

Under development. Expected to be compliance entities in the nation

metric ton

n.d.

Canada’s Offset System for Greenhouse Gases

Offset credit

Compliance entities in the nation and/or for the voluntary market

metric ton

n.d.

European Union Emissions Trading Scheme

EU Allowances (EUA) and CERs and ERUs

Public and private entities within the jurisdiction of the EU-ETS

metric ton

Midwest Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord

Under development

Under development. Expected to be compliance entities in the region

Not yet specified

New South Wales Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme

NSW GHG Abatement Certificates (NGACs)

Compliance and elective entities in the state

metric ton

NSW GGAS Registry

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

RGGI Allowances (RGGA) and
CO2 Offset Allowances

Compliance entities in the RGGI regions

short ton

RGGI CO2 Allowance Tracking System (COATS)

Western Climate Initiative

Under development

Under development. Expected to be compliance entities in the region

Not yet specified

n.d.

Other mandatory GHG systems

State power plant rules (OR, WA, MA)

OR: CO2 offsets

Compliance entities in the state

short ton

Oregon program funds managed by the Climate Trust

WA: Carbon credits

MA : GHG Credits

British Columbia Emission Offset Regulation

Emission reductions and removals

Provincial public sector organizations

metric ton

Pacific Carbon Trust

Voluntary standards (read about standards versus programs)

WBCSD/WRI GHG Protocol for Project Accounting 

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

ISO 14064

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Voluntary programs

American Carbon Registry

Emission Reduction Tons (ERTs)

Corporate pre-compliance buyers, hedge funds, carbon retailers and non-profits.

metric ton

American Carbon Registry

Chicago Climate Exchange

Carbon Financial Investments (CFI)#

CCX members and non-members such as offset brokers

metric ton

CCX Registry

Climate Action Reserve

Climate Reserve Tonnes (CRTs) "Carrot"

Individuals, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and businesses.

metric ton

Climate Action Reserve Registry

Climate Community and Biodiversity Standards

N/A

Individuals, nonprofit organizations, and businesses.

metric ton

CCB Projects

Climate Leaders 

External GHG reductions

Climate Leaders partners

metric ton

n.d.

Gold Standard

GS CER and  GS VER

Offset retailers, providers, individuals, organizations and businesses

metric ton

Gold Standard Registry

Green-e Climate Program

VER and CER

Carbon offset retailers

(varies by program certified)

N/A

Green-e Climate Protocol for Renewable Energy 

VER

Offset retailers, individuals, organizations and businesses

metric ton

List of Approved Facilities

Plan Vivo

Plan Vivo Certificates

Individuals, nonprofit organizations, and businesses.

metric ton

Plan Vivo Project Register

Social Carbon Methodology

Individuals, nonprofit organizations, and businesses.

metric ton

Social Carbon Registry

VER+

VER

Voluntary offset retailers and providers, organizations and businesses.

metric ton

BlueRegistry

Voluntary Carbon Standard

Voluntary Carbon Unit (VCU)

Voluntary offset retailers and providers, individuals, organizations and businesses.

metric ton

VCS Project Database