‍Why Gender Matters in Carbon Credit Projects

• Gender equality is a multiplier: Empowering women enhances outcomes across health, education, food security, and climate resilience.
• SDG 5 is central to the 2030 Agenda: Without measurable progress on gender equality, none of the other SDGs can be fully achieved.
• Carbon markets can accelerate change: By choosing projects that certify and monetize women’s empowerment, buyers add long-term social value alongside emissions reductions.

Key Due Diligence Questions for Buyers

Before purchasing carbon credits, buyers should ask:

• Participation: Are women meaningfully involved in project design, decision-making, and implementation?
• Measurement: Does the project track and report gender-related outcomes using recognized frameworks like the W+ Standard?
• Verification: Are women’s empowerment results independently verified, not just self-reported?
• Benefits: Do women directly receive financial or social benefits from the project’s outcomes?
• Sustainability: Will the empowerment impacts continue beyond the crediting period?

Aligning with SDG 5 and the W+ Standard

The W+ Standard provides a trusted certification framework that:

• Quantifies and verifies women’s empowerment outcomes.
• Adds transparency and credibility to project claims.
• Allows buyers to demonstrate leadership in advancing both climate and social goals.

By integrating gender due diligence into procurement, buyers ensure that their climate investments are not only credible but also transformative.

Join us:

For buyers seeking high-quality carbon credits with proven gender impact, the W+ Standard offers a clear path. Access the full guidance document to integrate gender due diligence into your purchasing decisions.