FAQs
The QAS is the only organisation that independently audits retail carbon offsets end to end — calculation, credits, retirement and claims.
At least 40 checks are carried out annually on QAS-Certified carbon offsets covering emissions factors, calculation methodologies, project methodologies, registry retiral, radiative forcing index, Environmental Claims best practice, pricing, information provision and individual company checks, so that businesses and consumers don’t have to. We also make sure that QAS-Certified carbon offsets steer clear of contentious issues such as large hydro projects, outdated versions HFC23 methodologies or the use of carbon credits for investment purposes, for example.
No, the QAS is the only organisation which independently audits carbon offsets outside of the industry. It does not represent the industry for other matters either.
Applying for QAS Certification
You can find this information here
It is a template provided by the Independent Auditor to be completed and emailed to them every year when renewing QAS-Certification. It is not required for a first audit. Information includes total sales of QAS Certified and non QAS Certified carbon offsets over the prior 12 month period of certification (signed by a qualified accountant or auditor), and also the credit retirement information to balance both offset accounts. This additional information must be provided within eight months of the end of the relevant QAS certification period and is confidential between the Independent Auditor and the applicant. The QAS will not have access to it unless explicit permission is given by the applicant.
This varies according to the size of the organisation applying. You can find details here.
No, the QAS charges a flat fee for auditing all the carbon offset products you apply for.
Either, its up to you. But you may find it easier if your responsible provider applies on your behalf. You will be jointly responsible for providing the required information.
Email [email protected] and request our application form. Complete and pay the required fee by bank transfer. Local payment options are available for major currencies.
The QAS Audit Process
The independent Auditor, currently Ricardo Energy & Environment. All audit-related correspondence will take place through them once the audit has started.
- GREEN – currently QAS certified or undergoing renewal
- AMBER – under initial application or certified pending minor amends
- RED – did not meet QAS requirements under independent audit
Audits are conducted by an Independent Auditor (IA). QAS-Approval is decided at their discretion according to the Procedures published by the QAS. Any discussions taking place during an audit between the IA and the QAS will be related to generic rather than applicant-specific issues.
No. The Independent Auditor (IA) is subject to a confidentiality agreement preventing it from discussing or sharing information provided by applicants with the QAS without the applicant’s explicit permission. Any discussions taking place during an audit between the IA and the QAS will be related to generic rather than applicant-specific issues.
Practical considerations may require the expert judgement of the Independent Auditor during assessment, and lead to some deviation from the standard assessment criteria. Any judgement exercised by an auditor in this way will be clearly highlighted in the assessment feedback given. The Independent Auditor and the QAS may discuss generic rule interpretation during the audit, but not anything applicant-specific (unless explicit permission is given). The final decision is at the Independent Auditor’s discretion.
12 months, unless an adjustment is required to bring audit timing in line with other organisations or the applicant’s year end. This is at the discretion of the QAS.
Carbon Footprint Calculation
No, but it is required that QAS-Certified and non QAS-Certified are clearly separated on the provider’s website to avoid any confusion.
No. The QAS demands accurate calculations but does not require a consumer or organisation to offset the emissions associated with the whole of their business/ lifestyle or for all of a defined activity – it is for the consumer or organisation to decide the scope of emissions that they wish to offset. For example a consumer may decide to offset domestic but not international flights or just one month’s electricity consumption. Organisations must communicate transparently to their stakeholders once the scope is decided.
Yes, in fact real world datasets should be used in preference to modelled data where available, for example the measured route-specific airline fuel consumption data that IATA uses for its flight offsets.
Acceptable methodological approaches to modelled calculation include the WRI Greenhouse Gas Protocol, national methodologies such as DESNZ Voluntary Reporting Guidelines, those used by the US EPA & the NZ Ministry for the Environment, and methodologies produced by respected independent organisations such as ISO, IEA, IPCC & the EU.
If fuel/energy consumption data (e.g. gas or electricity use for office buildings) are not available or easily obtainable in units of energy (or volume or mass, alternate metrics (such as office floor area where recognised regional benchmarks are available) can be used to estimate GHG emissions instead. Please discuss any specific examples with your auditor.
Yes, by 23%. Plug-in hybrids must use actual fuel data or a 300% uplift on manufacturer figures.
Yes, by 8%. But note that this does not apply to real world datasets.
Carbon Offset Projects
Within six months of the period end. Credits may also be retired up to 24 months in advance where exclusively reserved against QAS certified sales.
The Independent Auditor requires and scrutinises parallel information for both, and keeps track from one year to the next.
If the retiral is in the public domain then no additional information beyond the dates and certificate numbers may be required. However if it is not then direct access may be required to the registry for confirmation.
Transparency
You must provide at least two out of three of the following at or before the point of sale: total price, price per tonne and total tCO2e. It should also be clear to the consumer if the sales taxes are included or excluded where they exist in the country of purchase.
If you are buying carbon offsets, QAS certification is free. Carbon offset providers pay an annual fee for QAS services which includes independent audit and certification.
Additional Information
Carbon offsetting is the process of investing in a project carefully designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in response to the emissions left over after they have been reduced as much as possible. It takes responsibility for remaining emissions by funding verified emission reductions elsewhere. Reducing your emissions without offsetting what’s left is a job half done.
Carbon offsets should never be used in isolation. Without also taking responsibility for reducing overall emissions, carbon offsets cannot avoid global warming. However they are the only way to tackle the emissions left after reductions have been made.
