CarbonSetuEducational SimulationRs 98,560 Virtual

Virtual credit records

Understand what happens after a carbon credit is bought.

This tab explains the difference between buying a credit and retiring a credit. It teaches users what proof is needed before anyone can claim emissions were offset.

Virtual balance
Rs 98,560
Practice money for learning.
One credit
1 tonne
One credit usually represents 1 tCO2e.
Retired credit
Used
It cannot be sold or claimed again.
Proof
Serial ID
A record that tracks the credit.
01

Buying a credit is not the same as using it

important

If a user buys a credit, it is like holding inventory. It only supports an offset claim after it is retired. Retired means it is permanently marked as used.

ExampleThink of a train ticket. Buying the ticket is not the same as completing the journey. Retirement is the moment the credit is used for a claim.
  1. Buy a simulated credit in the Marketplace.
  2. Keep it in the credit ledger.
  3. Retire it only when you want to use it against emissions.
  4. After retirement, do not count it again.

Purchased credits are inventory. Retired credits are used claims.

02

The year of the credit matters

Vintage means the year the emission reduction happened. A recent, verified credit is usually easier to explain than an old or unclear one.

ExampleA 2025 credit from a monitored project is usually easier to explain than a 2014 credit from a project with little public information.
  1. Check the vintage year.
  2. Check whether the project has verification.
  3. Avoid making strong claims with unclear or very old credits.

The date and proof behind a credit matter as much as the price.

03

The claim must match the number of tonnes

If the dashboard shows 15 tonnes of financed emissions, the site should clearly say how many tonnes were offset and how many tonnes are still not offset.

ExampleIf emissions are 15 tonnes and the user retires 6 credits, the site should say 6 tonnes retired and 9 tonnes remaining. It should not say the whole portfolio is neutral.
  1. Start with the dashboard emissions total.
  2. Subtract retired credits.
  3. Show the remaining emissions clearly.

Never claim more offset than the number of credits retired.

04

Avoid unclear carbon-neutral claims

A good claim says: what was measured, what was reduced, what credits were retired, and what data was used. Without that, the claim is weak.

ExampleWeak claim: This portfolio is green. Better claim: This sample portfolio measured 15 tCO2e, reduced exposure through swaps, and retired 5 simulated credits for education.
  1. Say what was measured.
  2. Say what changed.
  3. Say how many credits were retired.
  4. Say what emissions remain.

Clear claims build trust. Vague claims create confusion.