The Global Carbon Council (GCC) has published the GCCM007 Methodology for Private Carpooling for Long-Distance Inter-Urban Travel. This methodology provides a structured and scientifically validated approach to quantifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions from carpooling activities, supporting sustainable transport solutions.
Context and Importance
Transportation is one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions. Private carpooling offers a practical way to reduce vehicle usage, improve occupancy rates, and cut down on emissions. The new GCCM007 methodology provides a standardized framework to measure and verify the climate benefits of long-distance inter-urban carpooling, making it a key tool for project developers seeking carbon credits.
Key Features of Methodology
- Comprehensive Emissions Accounting: Evaluates emission reductions from replacing single-occupancy vehicle trips with shared rides.
- Baseline and Project Scenarios: Establishes a comparison between traditional travel patterns and carpooling-enabled trips.
- Additionality Assessment: Ensures that carpooling projects contribute to additional emission reductions.
- Project Boundary Definition: Clearly outlines the geographic and transport sector scope of applicable projects.
- Monitoring and Verification: Provides clear guidelines on data collection, emission calculations, validation and verification requirements.
- Eligible Project Activities: Applies to non-commercial carpooling platforms that operate on a cost-sharing model, ensuring drivers do not generate profit beyond covering travel expenses.
- Ineligible Activities: Excludes car-sharing, corporate carpooling, and ride-hailing services such as Uber, Lyft, and taxis, as they do not align with the methodology’s principles.
Methodology Overview
The GCCM007 methodology takes a rigorous, data-driven approach:
- Defines baseline and project scenarios, accounting for different travel modes and occupancy levels.
- Incorporates a structured additionality assessment:
- Step 1: Country-Level Analysis – Determines if inter-urban carpooling is a common practice in a country. If less than 5% of total inter-urban travel consists of carpooling, the project qualifies for further evaluation.
- Step 2: Investment Analysis – Evaluates the financial viability of carpooling platforms to determine if carbon incentives are necessary for implementation.
- Establishes clear parameters for monitoring vehicle occupancy, travel distances, and avoided emissions.
- Uses established CDM methodologies to quantify CO₂ savings based on a comparison of baseline and project scenarios.
- Aligns with established carbon market protocols to ensure credibility and market acceptance.
Monitoring and Verification
To ensure transparency and credibility, projects must follow stringent monitoring guidelines:
- Fixed parameters such as vehicle fuel efficiency and emission factors remain unchanged during the crediting period.
- Ongoing data tracking of travel distances, occupancy rates, and platform usage must be recorded.
- Independent validation and verification by GCC VVBs to ensure data integrity and compliance.
Adoption and Availability
The GCC Regulatory Committee officially adopted this methodology following stakeholder consultations and expert reviews. It was available for public consultation from January 28, 2025, to February 11, 2025. It is now available for project developers looking to quantify and certify emission reductions from inter-urban carpooling initiatives.
This methodology marks a significant step in promoting low-carbon mobility solutions, encouraging the adoption of shared travel, and reducing transport-related emissions.
For more details, visit the GCC website: www.globalcarboncouncil.com
