Sylvera is building confidence in carbon markets through its independence and integrity

Developers, buyers, exchanges, governments and regulators all trust Sylvera’s ratings. That is because, from inception, Sylvera has committed to remaining free from conflicts of interest, generating only robust, data-driven ratings, and building high-integrity governance structures and processes.

Central to this is Sylvera’s commitment to never sell carbon credits. For the carbon markets to have environmental integrity, they need an independent data provider that is free from conflict. You can read more in our Code of Conduct about how, in everything Sylvera does, conflicts are either avoided or carefully managed.

Sylvera has developed market-leading, robust and data-driven ratings and ratings frameworks. The development of each framework typically takes between 1,500 and 2,500 hours, and each rating can take in excess of 100 hours to generate.

To ensure Sylvera’s ratings frameworks are peer-reviewed and reflect the latest scientific consensus, all new and materially amended ratings frameworks are reviewed by a Framework Review Committee (more below) made up of leading scientific experts and carbon market stakeholders.

Sylvera believes that transparency in how it operates and takes ratings decisions is critical to building trust and as such is committed to publishing its ratings frameworks and policies.

Sylvera recognises the influential position that it has in the carbon markets and its resultant duty to act fairly between stakeholders. Sylvera is committed to engaging constructively with all stakeholders (especially project proponents) and members of the public. You can read more about Sylvera’s Project Proponent Relationship and Grievance Policy here and contact projectratings@sylvera.io should you have any concerns you wish to discuss.

Lastly, Sylvera is active in supporting policy makers to ensure regulation, legislation and guidance is developed to accelerate the scaling of high-integrity carbon markets and carbon policy. You can see all of our policy consultation responses here.

Code of Conduct and Policies

Sylvera is committed to maintaining policies that drive the highest standards of independence, integrity, transparency and fairness, whilst ensuring accurate and robust ratings.

Sylvera’s current Code of Conduct and other policies can be found here:

Ratings, Ratings Frameworks and Committees

Sylvera has developed market-leading, robust and data-driven ratings and ratings frameworks. The development of each framework typically takes between 1,500 and 2,500 hours, and each rating can take in excess of 100 hours to generate.

To ensure ratings frameworks are peer-reviewed and reflect the latest scientific consensus, all new and amended ratings frameworks are reviewed by a Framework Review Committee made up of leading scientific experts and carbon market stakeholders – more below.

Ratings

Sylvera believes that transparency in how it operates and takes ratings decisions is critical to building trust and as such is committed to publishing its ratings frameworks.

Here is a summary of the ratings process and a detailed whitepaper, which sets out how Sylvera takes ratings decisions and applies its ratings frameworks.

Ratings Frameworks

Sylvera’s frameworks are critical to taking robust, consistent and fair ratings decisions. Each project type is bespoke; we develop a framework for each project type. You can view all of our ratings frameworks here.

Framework Review Committee

Sylvera prides itself on developing market-leading ratings and ratings frameworks. Central to this is its approach to hiring and nurturing specialist talent, and its processes for ensuring ratings frameworks are peer-reviewed by leading scientists, technical experts and key carbon market stakeholders.

New and materially amended frameworks will be reviewed and scrutinised by the Framework Review Committee before adoption. The Framework Review Committee comprises representatives of industry bodies and multilateral institutions; standards bodies; project developers; technical and scientific experts; exchanges and marketplace operators; financial institutions; and buyers / retirees of carbon credits. Sylvera is also committed to ensuring members of the public can input on its frameworks should they wish, and interested parties are invited to submit comments (including requests to be invited to the Framework Review Committee) to frameworks@sylvera.io.  

Whilst decisions on approving and implementing new and amended frameworks are taken by an internal Framework Approval Committee, Sylvera is committed to publishing minutes of each meeting of the Framework Review Committee after each meeting. Click below for the minutes of the meetings held to date:

- Renewables (RES) V1.0, 11 August 2022
- IFM v1.0, 3 October 2022
- CCUS V1.0, 6 February 2023
-Cookstoves V1.O, 7 February 2023

- REDD V3.0, 16 May 2023


Sylvera’s approach to developing and approving new ratings frameworks is described in more detail in its Frameworks Policy.