Milestone reflects nearly two decades of carbon offset verification work across 50-plus countries and 1,350-plus audits
SAN FRANCISCO, September 15, 2026 /3BL/ - SCS Global Services, a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, today announced that it has verified over 400 million tonnes of CO2 emissions reductions and removals, a milestone reached since it began assessing carbon offset projects in 2008. The achievement spans more than 1,350 completed audits across 50-plus countries and covers more than 50 distinct carbon offset methodologies.
The scale of this achievement is significant. The verified reductions are roughly equivalent to removing 93.3 million cars from the road for a year, or to the emissions avoided by powering 83 million U.S. homes with electricity for a year. In the United States alone, SCS has completed carbon offset and sustainability audits in 47 of 50 states.
“This industry runs on integrity, and 400 million tonnes of verified emissions reductions is an incredible contribution to the fight against climate change. Every one of those tonnes went through an independent, high-integrity verification process, and that consistency is what gives this market the credibility it needs to scale and grow," said Christie Pollet-Young, Vice President, Climate at SCS Global Services.
As carbon markets continue to mature and face growing scrutiny over data quality and methodological rigor, independent verification plays a central role in giving buyers, regulators, and the public confidence in the integrity of each credit. Reaching this milestone underscores SCS Global Services' role as one of the longest-standing and most active verifiers in the market. SCS Global Services' carbon offset verification work applies internationally recognized standards and methodologies to confirm that emissions reductions are real, measurable, and permanent.
A Portfolio Spanning Sectors and Continents
The path to 400 million tonnes runs through a wide range of emissions sources and geographies. SCS Global Services built its early carbon offset expertise in forestry, drawing on its long-standing reputation as an auditor for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and went on to verify the world's first Improved Forest Management projects under the California Climate Action Registry, the predecessor to today's Cap-and-Invest Program. That early work laid the foundation for SCS Global Services to extended its verification expertise across dozens of project types and international registries, often serving on working groups that help develop standards for emerging markets and technologies. Notable projects verified by SCS Global Services include:
- Yurok Tribe Sustainable Forest Project. For the Yurok Tribe in Northern California, SCS Global Services verified not only the first Improved Forest Management (IFM) project, but also the first project led by a tribal entity under California’s Cap-and-Invest Program, supporting sustainable tribal forestry practices that increase carbon storage while protecting culturally and ecologically significant forestlands.
- HFC refrigerant reclamation in Illinois. For Hudson Technologies, SCS Global Services verified a project that reclaims refrigerants for reuse in existing air conditioning and refrigeration systems throughout the United States, avoiding the production and eventual release of virgin HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons), a class of greenhouse gases with extremely high near-term warming potential.
- Regenerative agriculture across South Africa. For Orizon Agriculture, SCS Global Services verified emissions reductions and carbon removals from a grouped project spanning 22 farms and more than 15,500 hectares, where improved land management practices such as reduced tillage, cover cropping, and better grazing management are increasing soil organic carbon.
- Reforesting the Brazilian Amazon Project. For Mombak, SCS Global Services verified the first Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) project in the Brazilian Amazon using all-native species. It was also the first project to issue ARR credits under the Isometric registry. The project restored previously degraded pastureland, generating long-term carbon removals while supporting biodiversity recovery and ecosystem resilience.
- Ozone-depleting substance destruction in Thailand. For Tradewater, SCS Global Services verified the destruction of legacy CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) refrigerants at a facility in Samutprakarn, Thailand, preventing gases with severe ozone and climate impacts from ever being released.
- Carbon mineralization in concrete production. For CarbonCure Technologies, SCS Global Services has verified projects across the United States, Canada, and Singapore under Verra's VM0043 methodology, which permanently mineralizes captured CO2 in concrete while reducing the amount of carbon-intensive cement required.
- Atiala Atsinanana REDD project in Madagascar. For the Atiala-Atsinanana Emission Reductions Program in Madagascar, SCS Global Services verified emissions reductions from a jurisdictional REDD+ program spanning nearly 7 million hectares of eastern tropical forest, where efforts to reduce deforestation, strengthen community forest management, and protect biodiversity are generating large-scale climate benefits.
"These examples reflect not only the history of offsets but also where the market is headed, more diversification, more innovation, and a growing recognition that there's no single path to real climate impact. Wherever this market goes next, our commitment stays the same, that offsets remain a meaningful part of how the world addresses climate change, and that they're built on high integrity," said Pollet-Young.
About SCS Global Services
SCS Global Services is an international leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in San Francisco, California and celebrating over 40 years in business, SCS Global Services has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to companies, agencies, and advocacy organizations due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS Global Services is a chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. SCS Global Services is also a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business. For more information, visit www.SCSGlobalServices.com.
Rachel Barnhart
Director, Corporate Communications and Public Relations
