Carbon Trust Standard

The Carbon Trust Route to Net Zero Standard is a certification program that independently verifies an organisation's carbon reduction progress against science-based and Net Zero targets. Backed by the Carbon Trust's 20+ years of decarbonisation expertise and aligned with ISO 14064 and the GHG Protocol, it is open to organisations of any size across the UK — including businesses, non-profits, and governments — that want credible, third-party recognition of their climate commitments.

The program is structured around three progressive tiers: Taking Action, Advancing, and Leading. Organisations start by demonstrating historical emissions reductions and foundational carbon management practices, then work toward science-aligned reduction targets, and ultimately toward full 1.5°C-aligned reductions and a Net Zero target. Each tier comes with expert guidance to help organisations set the right targets, track progress, and communicate results to customers, investors, and regulators.

The Carbon Trust Standard is well suited to organisations that are serious about decarbonisation but may be at different stages of their journey. Rather than requiring immediate Net Zero alignment, the tiered structure allows organisations to demonstrate continuous, verifiable improvement over time. Certification provides a recognised mark that can be communicated to internal and external stakeholders as credible evidence of climate action.