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    Join the NCSA

    To be part of the NCSA, an organization has to formally support the NCS Alliance principles. It is not necessary to be a member of WEF or WBCSD and there is no membership fee. 

     

    The NCSA members are grouped in 3 categories:

    1. Business (Corporates and industry associations) purchasing NCS carbon credits
    2. NGO, research institutions, international organizations providing direction and advice on the integrity and quality of the demand 
    3. Solution providers (Project developers and standards/verification bodies/traders/originators) involved in the supply-chain of NCS credits

     

    Members of the NCS Alliance must: 

    1. Confirm that they will actively support the NCS Alliance Vision (Box 1)
    2. Operationalise the Principles for investing in Natural Climate Solutions (Box 2)
    3. Stand by the Guidelines for planning a credible climate strategy which includes NCS (Box 3)
    4. Agree to the NCSA Governance System 

     

    The Members can contribute to the NCS Alliance by:

    • Attending the All Members calls (organized at a minimum every 2 months), designed to provide updatesbut also share knowledge, and raise suggestions for future work of the NCSA
    • Participating in thematic working groups, facilitated by the NCSA Secretariat
    • Representing their organization in the Steering Committee 
    • Attending the annual High Level NCSA Meeting (designed for CEOs/high level representatives)
    • Promoting the principles, activities and products developed by the NCSA through their own organizational channels.
    • Promote their affiliation to the NCSA by using the NCSA logo on their website and annual reports as long as it is accompanied by a statement indicating “support for the use of high-quality NCS carbon credits”.

    Currently, there is no cost to join the Alliance and it is not necessary to be a WBCSD member or a WEF partner.

    Box1 - NCS Alliance’s Vision: 

    Natural Climate Solutions contribute their full potential towards the Paris climate goals as well as help solve some of the world’s most pressing and intractable environmental and social challenges, including biodiversity and forest loss, land degradation, sustainable water management and sustainable community livelihoods, starting today.

    Box2 - The NCS Alliance Principles for investing in Natural Climate Solutions

    (source: WEF_NCSA_NCS_for_Corporates_2021.pdf (weforum.org))

    1. NCS can and should raise ambition with respect to climate action, enhancing rather than diluting a nation’s or a company’s contribution to the Paris goals. NCS should be used in conjunction with the GHG emissions mitigation hierarchy i.e. avoiding and reducing emissions should be prioritized and continue in addition to the use of NCS credits.  
    2. NCS credits can provide an interim solution for hard to abate emissions but not a permanent one.  For certain unavoidable emissions, carbon sinks – including natural sinks – will always be needed to achieve net-zero. NCS credits should be considered an enabling solution that will support long-term sustainable land use.
    3. NCS investments should follow rigorous environmental and social safeguards, which may help generate other benefits in line with UN SDGs. 
    4. Sound and verified carbon measurement and accounting methodologies must be applied to ensure high integrity of NCS credits. Emissions reductions and removals must be real, quantified and verified, with issues of additionality, leakage and permanence appropriately addressed, and tracked through robust accounting to avoid double counting.

    Box3 - Guidelines for planning a credible climate strategy which includes NCS

    (source: WEF_NCSA_NCS_for_Corporates_2021.pdf (weforum.org))

    For planning a credible climate strategy including NCS:

    1. Ensure that your climate strategy is consistent with the Paris Agreement, follows the mitigation hierarchy by addressing value chain emissions first, and is publicly disclosed.
    2. Set science-based targets including a net zero goal as part of your climate strategy. These science-based targets should be authenticated by a credible validation pathway.
    3. Develop and publish a company-wide climate plan and roadmap (if not already included in your climate strategy) to address all relevant value chain (Scope 1, 2 and 3) emissions. 
    4. Maximize NCS for value chain decarbonization if your supply chain includes agriculture, forests and land use.
    5. Advocate for climate policy aligned with achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and publicly disclose evidence of advocacy efforts.

    For using NCS credits as part of a corporate climate strategy:

    1. Commit to long-term purchase agreements for NCS credits. 
    2. Invest in high quality NCS credits.
    3. Report transparently on and secure 3rd party verification for NCS credits.

    To join us, please contact:

    Giulia Carbone, Director, Natural Climate Solutions, WBCSD 

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