German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) at the German Environment Agency

Climate projects

There are various options for reducing or offsetting greenhouse gas emissions within and outside the EU. The mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol, projects in the voluntary market or upstream emission reductions in the fuel sector are among the options available for climate protection projects.

Latest

Information on climate projects

You can find an overview of the latest news, dates and publications on climate protection projects here. You can use the tab function to filter by category or use the button at the bottom of the box to display a complete overview.

Overview

Tender for authorized Article 6.4 Emission Reductions: Germany's Initiative to Offset Government Business Travel

Dokumenttyp News , Klimaschutzprojekte , 07/10/2026

One number for all your questions – a new telephone system for our customer service team

Dokumenttyp News , Various areas of environmental legislation , 15/09/2026

Factsheet: A survey on voluntary offsetting

Dokumenttyp Publication , Klimaschutzprojekte , 21/08/2026

Many people want to protect the climate and offset their own emissions through climate protection projects. A brief summary of the results of the public opinion survey.

All about climate projects

News

Tender for authorized Article 6.4 Emission Reductions: Germany's Initiative to Offset Government Business Travel

Dokumenttyp News , Klimaschutzprojekte , 07/10/2026

One number for all your questions – a new telephone system for our customer service team

Dokumenttyp News , Various areas of environmental legislation , 15/09/2026

UERV: Deadline extension for the 2025 commitment year

Dokumenttyp News , Klimaschutzprojekte , 24/02/2026

All climate project news

Dates

Publications

Factsheet: A survey on voluntary offsetting

Dokumenttyp Publication , Klimaschutzprojekte , 21/08/2026

Many people want to protect the climate and offset their own emissions through climate protection projects. A brief summary of the results of the public opinion survey.

Factsheet: Voluntary Climate Contributions and Offsetting

Dokumenttyp Publication , Klimaschutzprojekte , 06/07/2026

This factsheet provides an overview of voluntary climate contributions and the offsetting of greenhouse gas emissions.

Factsheet: Peatland Protection is Climate Action

Dokumenttyp Publication , Klimaschutzprojekte , 03/07/2026

Forests and peatlands are very important for the protection of our environment.

All climate projects publications

Key topics

United Nations Project Mechanisms

Category: Climate projects , from: 08/05/2024

Voluntary offsetting and climate contributions

Category: Climate projects , from: 28/10/2026

Peatlands

Peatlands

Climate neutral business trips of the Federal Government

Category: Climate projects , from: 21/02/2024

Basic information

Information library

Our tasks are varied and complex. Here we provide you with basic information and frequently asked questions.

Natural Climate Protection

Climate crisis and biodiversity crisis threaten life on Earth. The two crises are closely linked and mutually reinforcing. The ‘natural climate protection’ umbrella topic covers them both and links climate protection to the protection of natural ecosystems.

Law

Climate projects

Laws and regulations and (if available) case law

Legal basis

Regulation (EU) 2022/0394 establishing a Union certification framework for carbon removals of 22/11/2022

Category: Legislation , from: 14/02/2024

All legal basis

Jurisdiction

Any questions?

We have answers

In our FAQ you will find questions and answers on climate protection projects.

Source: © A_Lein - Fotolia
  • In CDM, project participants are given the choice between two types of crediting period. Once the choice is made, it cannot be altered:

    • The crediting period can be set at seven years with the option of extending the period twice - in other words, a maximum of 21 years.
    • Alternatively, the crediting period can be set at ten years with no extension option.

    The actual volume of emission reductions will be established later during the monitoring process. It is therefore possible that emissions credited lie below the anticipated volume if project activities do not yield the expected reduction in emissions.

  • The number of emission reduction units is calculated from the difference between baseline and project emissions (in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents - CO2eq), adjusted by leakage emissions.

    Please note that leakage may have a positive impact and is not necessarily a debit factor.

    Calculation:

    Baseline emissions

    +/- leakage

    - project emissions

    = Certified Emission Reductions (CERs)

    The certificates are issued after completion of monitoring and the surrender of the verification and certification reports.

  • A CDM project can be directed towards reducing one or several of the following greenhouse gases listed in the Kyoto Protocol: Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).

    As their individual contributions to the greenhouse effect vary, they are weighted according to their global-warming potential, which is defined as the amount of heat trapped by a certain mass of the gas in question compared to the amount of heat trapped by a similar mass of carbon dioxide.

    All gases are therefore measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (tCO2eq).

    Thus, 1 tonne of CH4 would equal 21 tCO2eq.

All FAQs about climate projects

Further pages

United Nations Project Mechanisms

Find out all about the project mechanisms for mitigating climate change.

Source: © Riccardo Niels Mayer – stock.adobe.com

Natural Climate Protection

We provide you with an overview of the protection of natural ecosystems as well as information on further information offered by the Federal Environment Agency.

Source: © A_Lein - Fotolia

Carbon Offsetting

Find out on this page how voluntary offsetting through climate protection projects can provide real added value for climate protection.

Source: atmosfair

Business trips of the Federal Government

The German government's offsetting of business travel greenhouse gas emissions sends an important climate policy signal and creates positive incentives.

Source: © kalafoto / Fotolia

Projects in the fuel sector (UERV)

Companies that are subject to the greenhouse gas quota in Germany have been able to partially fulfill their obligation with upstream emission reductions (UER) since the 2020 commitment year.

Source: © Leonid Ikan / Fotolia