At Climate Week NYC, the Carbon Data Open Protocol (CDOP) coalition unveiled Version 1.0 of its open-source data schema, a breakthrough aimed at reducing market fragmentation and scaling investment into carbon markets.
The framework, developed with input from 37 organizations including Verra, South Pole, Isometric, and Kita, standardizes definitions for project location, details, and approach, helping align registries, platforms, and investors. Future versions will expand to cover the full lifecycle of carbon credits.
Carbon credit data has long been siloed, with dozens of incompatible schemas creating inefficiencies and undermining investor confidence.
By harmonizing more than 15 existing frameworks, CDOP Version 1.0 consolidates over 1,600 unique data fields into a shared structure.
“This is one of the most significant collaborative steps toward carbon market standardization we’ve seen to date,” said Nikodem Lacki, Data as a Product Head, S&P Global Commodity Insights. “Establishing common data foundations across voluntary and compliance markets, removes structural barriers that have prevented institutional capital from flowing efficiently into climate solutions.”
Unlike proprietary solutions, CDOP is open-source and freely available online. It builds on the G20’s Common Carbon Credit Data Model (CCCDM), while aligning with the Climate Action Data Trust and UNFCCC initiatives to improve transparency and interoperability.
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Driving Adoption
CDOP invites project developers, registries, and investors to adopt the framework and contribute to its evolution.
The coalition is supported by 54 organizations across the private, nonprofit, and public sectors. Signatories include names like CDR.fyi, Elimini, Puro.earth, remove, BeZero Carbon, RMI and others.
“Carbon markets are too important to global climate goals to be hindered by data silos,” said Allister Furey, CEO, Sylvera. “By open sourcing these standards, we’re ensuring that innovation can build on a stable, shared foundation.”
