Three Credit Type Families
MCC methodologies are organized into three families, each addressing distinct marine conservation outcomes.
MCC-CC: Coastal Carbon
Quantifies carbon sequestration in F01 Blue Carbon ecosystems — mangrove, seagrass, kelp, and salt marsh — using IPCC Tier 2/3 methods and the 2013 Wetlands Supplement. 100-year permanence horizon with 30-year post-crediting monitoring. Includes both avoided emissions from ecosystem loss and enhanced removals from restoration.
MCC-HYB: Hybrid Credits
Combines verified carbon sequestration with biodiversity co-benefits in a single instrument. Issued for F02 Ecosystem Restoration (coral, oyster, kelp restoration) and F05 MPA Management. 30-year permanence horizon. Targets buyers seeking stacked climate + biodiversity outcomes.
MCC-MCU: Marine Conservation Units
Quantifies avoided emissions from F03 Sustainable Fisheries (gear shift, bycatch reduction) and F04 Pollution Prevention (ghost gear retrieval, plastic interception, runoff prevention). Flow measure — no permanence horizon. Each unit represents one tonne of CO₂e prevented or one verified conservation outcome.
From Proposal to Approval
Methodology Development Process
Every MCC methodology undergoes a rigorous seven-stage process combining AI-powered analysis with human expertise to ensure scientific credibility, stakeholder inclusion, and regulatory alignment.
Proposal Submission
Project proponents submit a complete methodology proposal including technical documentation, baseline approach, quantification methods, and alignment with IPCC guidelines and MCC standards.
AI-Powered Pre-Screening
MCC's AI review engine automatically analyses the submission for completeness, flags quantification gaps, checks conformance with ISO 14064 and ICVCM Core Carbon Principles, and generates a preliminary assessment report — reducing initial review time by 60%.
Technical Deep Review
MCC technical team validates the AI assessment and conducts an in-depth eligibility review against MCC-200 Methodology Framework requirements. Satellite baseline data and remote sensing imagery are cross-referenced with submitted claims.
Public Consultation
30-day public comment period. All submissions are published on the MCC Registry for transparent stakeholder review — including input from scientists, governments, NGOs, and industry experts.
Independent Expert Panel
A panel of independent marine scientists and carbon market experts evaluates technical rigour, additionality demonstration, baseline credibility, and quantification accuracy. AI-generated risk analysis supports the panel's assessment.
Revision & Response
Proponents formally respond to all expert and public comments. AI-assisted revision tools help refine methodology to address technical feedback, strengthen safeguards, and ensure regulatory alignment.
Board Approval & Publication
MCC Standards Board votes on final approval. Approved methodologies are published on the MCC Registry with full documentation, version control, and AI-powered monitoring templates for implementation.
Approved Methodologies
Currently approved MCC methodologies available for project implementation.
Mangrove Restoration & Conservation
Quantifies carbon sequestration from mangrove ecosystem protection and restoration. Uses IPCC 2013 Wetlands Supplement Tier 2/3 methods for above- and below-ground biomass and soil organic carbon. Covers avoided deforestation, reforestation, and rehabilitation of degraded mangrove areas.
Seagrass Meadow Protection
Measures carbon storage in seagrass ecosystems — one of the most efficient blue carbon sinks on Earth. Baseline and monitoring protocols follow IPCC guidelines for coastal wetlands, with remote sensing validation and in-situ coring for soil carbon stocks.
Kelp Forest Restoration
Addresses kelp forest degradation and restoration in temperate marine environments. Quantifies biomass carbon and ecosystem productivity gains using satellite-derived kelp area mapping, dive surveys, and growth modelling calibrated to regional conditions.
Salt Marsh Restoration & Conservation
Quantifies blue carbon sequestration from salt marsh and tidal wetland restoration, hydrological reconnection, and protection of intact systems. Uses IPCC 2013 Wetlands Supplement Tier 2/3 methods with soil-coring to 1 m and Monte Carlo uncertainty assessment. Aligned with F01 Blue Carbon family permanence regime (100-year horizon, 30-year post-crediting monitoring).
Coral Reef Restoration
Issues hybrid carbon-plus-biodiversity credits from active coral restoration — coral gardening, substrate stabilization, larval propagation. Combines measurable structural reef recovery (cover, complexity, fish biomass) with quantified avoided sediment-carbon loss. 30-year permanence horizon. Aligned with IUCN reef assessment standards.
Oyster Reef Restoration
Restoration of intertidal and subtidal oyster reefs with quantified ecosystem-service outcomes: shoreline protection, sediment-carbon sequestration, water-filtration capacity, and habitat provisioning. Hybrid carbon + biodiversity instrument under F02 Restoration. 30-year permanence horizon, conservative buffer of 25–30%.
Baseline & Additionality Requirements
Baseline Determination
- ✓Assessment of business-as-usual scenario
- ✓Legal and regulatory compliance analysis
- ✓Historical ecosystem conditions and trends
- ✓Documented baseline documentation requirements
- ✓Regular baseline validation and updates
Additionality Criteria
- ✓Project must exceed baseline scenario outcomes
- ✓Financial viability test: not profitable without credits
- ✓Barrier analysis: identifies implementation obstacles
- ✓Common practice test: activity not common in region
- ✓Investment analysis demonstrates necessity of credits