Climate Certification Standard for Non-Production in the Artistic & Cultural Sector
Specialised technical body for certifying avoided climate impact derived from the non-execution of artistic and cultural projects, which regulates the Cultural Degrowth Credits (CDC).
Who we are
Foundations of the Certification Standard for the Artistic & Cultural Sector
Art Carbon Avoided S.L. is the pioneering entity in the certification of avoided climate impact in the field of art and culture. It manages the development and application of the Art Carbon Avoidance (ACA) standard, which regulates the issuance of Cultural Degrowth Credits (CDC): units conceived to quantify, validate and certify impact reductions attributable to the non-execution of cultural projects with demonstrated technical feasibility and corroborated documentary evidence regarding their planning and development.
The CDC are structured within the logic of the voluntary carbon market, in the category of avoided emissions, applying criteria of additionality, verifiability, traceability and environmental integrity, and aligned with internationally recognised methodological frameworks (e.g., ISO 14040/14044 in LCA), with no affiliation to external standards or registries.
The Art Carbon Avoidance standard makes it possible to recognise as verifiable climate contributions those artistic and cultural proposals whose execution was viable and documented, but which are cancelled if they are certified as mitigation actions. This approach enables the generation of environmental and economic value without the need for material production, within the framework of a complementary model of structured cultural degrowth.
The calculation structure is based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) principles, in accordance with the international ISO 14040 and 14044 standards. Quantification includes CO₂e emissions, energy consumption, materials and other relevant environmental vectors, with full traceability through technically defined reference scenarios.
The standard is currently applied in technical environments controlled by Art Carbon Avoided S.L., within the framework of a limited operational phase subject to continuous evaluation.
THE ACA STANDARD
Technical Operation of the ACA Standard
The Art Carbon Avoidance (ACA) standard provides a precise methodological framework for certifying avoided environmental impact in the arts and culture sector, applicable exclusively to proposals whose non-execution is supported by demonstrable technical feasibility and advanced planning.
The procedure is structured around six operational phases.
THE ACA STANDARD
Technical Operation of the ACA Standard
The (ACA) standard establishes a precise methodological framework for the certification of avoided climate impact in the artistic and cultural field, applicable exclusively to proposals whose non-execution is supported by demonstrable conditions of technical feasibility and advanced planning. ACA constitutes an independent, auditable methodological architecture aligned with principles of the voluntary carbon market (VCM).
The procedure is structured around six operational phases.
PRE-PROJECT DOCUMENTATION
Compilation of materials proving the proposal’s existence as an active project, including timelines, budgets, contracts, or preliminary agreements.
BASELINE SCENARIO CONSTRUCTION
Technical modeling of the environmental impact that would have resulted from execution, using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools, in accordance with ISO 14040 and 14044.
ASSESSMENT OF ADDITIONALITY & TRACEABILITY
Verification that the avoided impact would not have been reduced by other means and is solely attributable to the conditional cancellation decision.
INDEPENDENT TECHNICAL VALIDATION
Review of the file by an accredited independent verifier, who certifies the methodological coherence of the modelling.
FORMALIZATION OF THE AVOIDANCE DECISION
The author or promoter of the project declares their commitment to cancellation conditional upon certification as a mitigation action.
ISSUANCE OF CDCs (CULTURAL DEGROWTH CREDITS)
The credits are recorded in the ACA registry as verified impact reduction units, based on the calculated avoided emissions.
The ACA standard does not replicate existing models, but rather formalises a specific approach for avoided artistic and cultural projects, through an independent, auditable methodological architecture aligned with the principles of the voluntary carbon market (avoided emissions segment). Its implementation in a controlled technical circuit guarantees procedural traceability and makes it possible to consolidate a robust basis for its potential future transfer.
THE ACA STANDARD
Eligibility Requirements
& Verification System
For a project to be eligible for the generation of CDC credits, it must meet a set of requirements that guarantee its legitimacy, traceability and technical grounding. These criteria make it possible to establish a clear distinction between simple inaction and a non-execution decision that is conditioned and certifiable as a climate mitigation action.
The project must include a defined design, chosen materials, feasibility evaluation, technical documentation, a budget with two supplier quotes, proof of payments or purchases, and a dated production timeline.
1
MINIMUM ADVANCED
PRE-PRODUCTION STAGE
Investment letters, preliminary contracts, pro forma invoices, professional correspondence or letters of interest from clients or institutions.
2
PROOF OF
PRODUCTION INTENT
A simplified LCA is required in accordance with ISO 14040/44, including suppliers, materials and economic estimates.
3
TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT
OF AVOIDED IMPACT
By means of a sworn notarial statement signed by the author or promoter (sworn statement of non-execution, before a notary or legally equivalent instrument, according to jurisdiction).
4
LEGAL COMMITMENT TO NON-EXECUTION
CDC REGISTRY & TRACEABILITY
Cultural Degrowth Credits
Under the ACA Standard
Each Cultural Degrowth Credit (CDC) issued under the Art Carbon Avoidance (ACA) standard is entered in a proprietary digital registry managed by Art Carbon Avoidance S.L., which guarantees its traceability, uniqueness and verifiability over time.
The registry operates as a structured database that assigns each credit a unique identifier (CDC code), linked to the project’s validated technical documentation, the calculation file and the verification resolution. This coding makes it possible to ensure that each credit:
- Corresponds to a unique environmental mitigation action with attributable, non-duplicated impact.
- Has undergone independent validation and verification in accordance with the ethical and technical protocols of the standard.
- Is tied to a formal declaration of irreversible non-execution, recorded before a notary or legally equivalent instrument, according to jurisdiction.
Although the registry is not publicly accessible in this initial operational phase, the future opening of a consultable version is envisaged, with the basic anonymised metadata of each credit (project title, range of avoided emissions, date of entry, responsible verifier).
INTERNAL AUDIT SYSTEM
The system includes procedures for technical audit and peer cross-review in cases required, as well as an anti-fraud protocol that prevents double counting, greenwashing or unilateral revocation of issued credits. Each credit is linked to a traceability technical sheet, which includes:
- Identification code
- Author or promoter (anonymized in the public version)
- Verification and registration dates
- Modeled baseline scenario
- Summary report of avoided impact
- Identity of the accredited verifier (according to ACA Ethical Code)
ACA CERTIFIED ARTWORKS
AvoidedArtwork_001
Name: Avoided
CDC-00129-A | Cancelled artistic project – 2025
Avoided impact: 57.765 tCO₂e
Status: Registered
Validation date: 08/09/2025
Responsible verifier: Code V-X09
Associated documentation: simplified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA/ACV-s) report (in accordance with ISO 14040–44), independent third-party verification report (signed PDF), contracts and legal documents, budgetary and financial evidence...
Remarks: Large-scale installation.
FAQs
Find Out More About ACA
A CDC is a unit of avoided climate impact certified in accordance with the Art Carbon Avoidance (ACA) standard. Each CDC is equivalent to one tonne of avoided CO₂e, calculated from a documented and validated reference scenario that estimates the emissions that would have been generated by the execution of an artistic or cultural project whose non-realisation is formally certified.
Each CDC is equivalent to one tonne of avoided CO₂e. The total number of credits issued for a project is determined by means of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), in accordance with the ISO 14040 and 14044 standards, which models the emissions that its execution would have generated. The final issuance of CDC depends on this calculation and on its validation and verification by an independent external audit.
Eligible projects are artistic or cultural projects whose execution has been technically planned and documented, and whose non-realisation is formally conditioned as a climate mitigation action. This may include exhibitions, installations, stage works, etc., provided there is clear evidence of advanced pre-production and effective intent to execute.
The standard does not recognize mere inaction. A project can only be certified if its cancellation meets strict criteria of:
● Prior technical feasibility
● Demonstrated planning
● Conditional renunciation for certification
A CDC validates that the decision not to execute results in a concrete, quantifiable, and verifiable positive environmental impact.
Verification is carried out by an independent third party:
● Specific training in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
● Commitment to independence and transparency
● Adherence to the CDC Ethical Code
In addition, in cases that require it, verifiers may be subject to cross-audit or peer review.
Each CDC is entered in an internal digital registry managed by Art Carbon Avoided S.L., with a unique identification code, linked to the complete technical file. Although the platform is not public for the moment, a consultable version is envisaged with anonymised metadata (title, avoided impact, date, verifier, etc.).
The CDC can be integrated into internal voluntary strategies of climate contribution by organisations that adopt this independent framework. Their acceptance by third parties —including consolidated standards and registries of the voluntary carbon market— may vary according to their policies. ACA is an independent standard and is not affiliated with external standards or registries.
Currently, the standard is applied only in technical environments controlled by Art Carbon Avoided S.L. During this implementation phase, a public channel for new external applications has not been enabled.
CONTACT
Get In Touch
For inquiries regarding the ACA standard, Cultural Degrowth Credits (CDC), or technical documentation, please fill out the form below.
Frequently Asked Questions
