Comparative analysis of the international carbon verification policies and systems

Carbon verification, which can guarantee the reliability and credibility of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission data, is the most important part of the daily operations of the carbon emission right trading system. Many international institutions, countries and regions have conducted research on and have practiced carbon verification policies and systems. Through comparative analysis of the international carbon verification policies and systems, they can provide experience for Chinese unified national carbon market to start supporting carbon verification. The paper study concludes that (1) carbon verification systems developed by international institutions focus on the scientific level of verification methods; (2) carbon verification policies and systems issued by important countries and regions draw on International Standardization Organization (ISO)14064 standards based on their national conditions and focus on the scientific level and reasonableness of verification methods; (3) major international experience includes complete verification policies and systems, strict standard verification procedures, diversified verification forms and a focus on key emission sources. Based on the differences in China’s carbon emissions characteristics caused by unbalanced regional economic development and the conditions of carbon verification in seven pilot carbon trading areas, this thesis proposes the following suggestions: pushing forward the establishment of carbon verification policies and systems by accelerating legislation on climate changes; facilitating carbon verification in a coordinated manner; regulating key GHG emission sources; establishing and improving supervision on carbon verification; and intensifying international exchanges and cooperation.