Once an entity signs the licence agreement, we send them reporting templates to complete. 

 

This includes the following documents:

 

 

It usually takes entities 3 to 12 months to complete the initial reporting package and obtain certification. We review an entity’s initial reports to make sure they meet the standard and the licence agreement. Entities may be asked to revise the documents if they are incomplete, potentially misleading, or do not follow the relevant standard.

 

To maintain certification, certified entities must submit updated reporting documents each year within the agreed timeframes. We review annual reports for completion and clarity to support public understanding.

 

More information on reporting requirements is outlined in our Compliance policy.

 

Public Disclosure Statements

A certified entity’s first Public Disclosure Statement records the outcome of the certification process. They are then required to submit an updated statement each year (also known as an annual report) to maintain certification.

 

The statement includes the entity’s carbon account, emissions reduction strategy and carbon offset information. 

 

Climate Active publishes all statements on our website to make them easily accessible to the public. Entities should also publish their statements on their own website. 

 

It takes time to thoroughly review these statements and work with the entity to address any amendments. 

 

Eligible offset units

Climate Active members must offset their residual emissions by using ‘eligible offset units’. Members choose their preferred carbon credits from the full list of eligible offset units. An entity’s offsets must be captured in their annual reporting documents.

 

Climate Active encourages members to do their own due diligence on the individual offset projects they choose. This includes the carbon abatement method and other social, cultural and economic information about the project.

 

Climate Active reviews reporting documents only once the full details of all offset units used for the certification are included. This check confirms the offsets are eligible, the number of offsets matches the reported emissions, and there is evidence of purchase and surrender. This process ensures the certification meets the required standards.

 

Validation requirements

Entities must have their carbon accounts independently validated by a third party, as set out in the standards and licence agreement. The validation requirements depend on the type of certification and may include verification or audit. 

 

Third-party validation must be completed at the time of application, and at any point when a base year recalculation is required.

 

All certifications require a technical assessment of the methodology used to prepare a carbon neutral claim. This can be completed by a registered consultant.

 

A technical assessment is completed at the time of application, and then every 3 years or when a base year recalculation is required. Small businesses and small events are excluded from this requirement. This assessment ensures appropriate rigour in the development of an organisation’s carbon budget. 

 

All validation reports must be submitted as part of the reporting requirements.

 

Delays in publishing reports

Climate Active carefully assesses certification applications and annual reporting documents. This assessment process means there is a delay between an entity submitting their annual reporting and its publication on the Climate Active website. 

 

During this time, a certified entity may appear to only be certified for previous years. This happens while Climate Active reviews the documents and the entity addresses any required changes. A backlog of submissions can also cause a delay.

 

Climate Active publishes a certification status on our website to show which members have met their reporting requirements. If an entity is listed as ‘active’, the entity has met its reporting requirements and is compliant with the licence agreement. More information on our compliance policy is outlined in Compliance policy.