MUCR Programme Guidelines   

Overview 

In light of urgent global concerns surrounding climate change, an increasing number of corporate entities and organisations are turning to carbon markets as a powerful solution. As these markets expand rapidly, it is essential to establish clear processes that guarantee the reliability and integrity of carbon credits issued by projects.


Mauritius Carbon Registry (MUCR) has been established as the national carbon registry for Mauritius, reflecting the country’s unique circumstances as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS). Although Mauritius is responsible for less than 0.01% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it faces disproportionate risks from sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and increasingly frequent cyclones. In response, Mauritius has committed to cutting economy-wide emissions by 40% by 2035, achieving 60% renewable energy in electricity generation, and advancing nature-based solutions such as mangrove and seagrass restoration.


MUCR provides the trusted platform through which these ambitions can be realised. With a strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) projects, our mission is to empower organisations and investors to engage confidently in the carbon market. Our Registry Platform enables the creation, holding, and transfer of carbon credits in a secure and verifiable environment.


Eligible STEM initiatives include renewable energy installations such as solar and wind, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, water purification systems, sustainable waste management, and blue carbon projects that enhance Mauritius’s critical coastal and marine ecosystems. This page provides an overview of MUCR’s processes for onboarding carbon projects and issuing carbon credits, ensuring transparency and credibility in the evolving landscape of climate action and carbon markets.



MUCR Structure and Governance: Ensuring Trust and Reliability 

 

Mauritius Carbon Registry (MUCR) delivers best-in-class services through a robust structure and governance system designed to uphold the highest standards of safety, regulatory compliance, and corporate integrity. Our commitment to transparency and credibility begins with the very foundation of our organisation.


Mauritius-based Governance: MUCR’s governance is firmly rooted in the Republic of Mauritius. This approach reflects the country’s commitment to strong legal frameworks, climate ambition, and transparent corporate structures. Operating within Mauritius ensures that MUCR adheres to the highest standards of business ethics and regulatory compliance, providing confidence and trust to all stakeholders.


UNFCCC and CDM: MUCR follows the guidelines, methodologies, and required standards set forth by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This alignment ensures that our projects are developed to rigorous international standards, reinforcing their credibility as High Integrity Carbon Projects.


ISO 14064 Standards: MUCR is also committed to the ISO 14064 standard, encompassing parts 1–3. These standards provide a comprehensive framework for the quantification, monitoring, reporting, and verification of greenhouse gas emissions and removals. By adhering to ISO 14064, we ensure the establishment of carbon projects with the highest levels of integrity and effectiveness.


Onboarding Projects: Our rigorous onboarding process is designed to uphold the integrity and reliability of the carbon credits we issue. We work closely with Project Proponents to assess their initiatives, ensuring they meet our stringent criteria. Through this careful evaluation, we identify projects that not only reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions but also uphold the highest environmental and ethical standards. 

STEM-Based Projects

MUCR is committed to offering high-integrity Carbon Projects through the onboarding and registration of STEM-based initiatives. We exclusively register projects that apply science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) principles, enabling the issuance of MUCR Carbon Credits through rigorous, STEM-focused implementation.


STEM-based carbon projects involve the significant application of scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical practices to mitigate carbon emissions and manage greenhouse gases (GHGs) effectively. In the Mauritian context, this includes renewable energy projects such as solar photovoltaic (rooftop, ground-mounted, and floating), onshore and offshore wind, and biomass conversion, as well as the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, sustainable waste management facilities, and digital solutions for efficiency and monitoring.


Beyond land-based initiatives, MUCR also recognises the critical role of blue carbon projects in restoring mangroves, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs — natural carbon sinks vital for both mitigation and adaptation in island states. By prioritising these approaches, MUCR ensures that registered projects are not only innovative but also measurable, verifiable, and impactful in delivering real climate benefits.

These projects encompass tools to offer an innovative approach to climate change and to promote sustainability. Common STEM-based Carbon Projects may include the use of: 


  • Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies 
  • Renewable Energy implementations 
  • Energy Efficiency Initiatives 
  • Climate Modelling and Simulation Tools 
  • Smart Grid and Grid Integration 
  • Carbon Footprint Assessments 
  • Climate Adaptation and Resilience Projects
  • Green Transportation Technologies 
  • Carbon Data Management and Reporting
  • Waste-to-Energy technologies 

Monitoring

Furthermore, MUCR requires the implementation of monitoring practices. It is the responsibility of each Project Proponent to apply relevant scientific and technological methods to ensure the accurate, consistent, and reliable measurement of a project’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions or removals.

Setting Up a Carbon project 


Initial Consultancy 


The initial consultancy phase is designed to provide Project Proponents with clear guidance, alignment, and technical support. At this stage, our experts engage with you — either via email or video consultation — to clarify requirements and ensure your Project Activity aligns with MUCR’s specific standards and criteria. This step is crucial in establishing a strong foundation for your project’s development.


Registration


Following approval during the initial consultancy, the next step is project registration. This process involves creating an account with MUCR, which serves as your centralised platform for managing and tracking the progress of your Project Activity. Registration marks the formal beginning of your journey within the MUCR Registry.


Project Initiation Form


The Project Initiation Form serves as the foundational document for your Project Activity. By completing this form, you provide essential details about your project, including its objectives, scope, and initial plans. While less detailed than the Project Design Document (explained below), the Initiation Form is a critical starting point that sets the stage for more in-depth documentation. Once submitted, the form will be reviewed by one of our experts. Approval is required before progressing to the next stage, and clarifications or amendments may be requested. MUCR also reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to decline projects that do not meet the necessary standards.


The Main Documentation of Your Project


The Project Design Document (PDD) is the primary blueprint for your Project Activity. Within this document, you must outline the project’s overarching purpose, methodologies, and expected outcomes in the context of carbon reduction or removal.


The PDD is essential for project assessment, enabling verification that the project is performing in line with its intended goals. It must comply with ISO 14064 (parts 1–3) and incorporate relevant requirements from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the MUCR Registry platform.


Importantly, the PDD also determines eligibility for Carbon Credits, which underpin the financial sustainability of your project. By quantifying expected outcomes, the PDD provides a robust framework for measuring success and ensures that your project operates in harmony with both international standards and Mauritius’s national climate commitments.

Methodology Development  

While the Methodology Document is optional, it becomes crucial and mandatory when your project lacks an existing methodology for assessing Additionality or quantifying greenhouse gas emission removal. In such cases, you are responsible for drafting a new methodology that meets the necessary criteria of your project.


Additionally, you must secure verification and validation certifications from MUCR-approved Verification and Validation Bodies (VVBs) to ensure the credibility of your methodology. 

Monitoring Schedule

A monitoring schedule is a fundamental aspect of project development, as it clearly defines when and how data will be collected and reported on your project’s performance. This schedule is typically integrated into the Project Design Document (PDD) and does not usually require a separate validation or verification process.


However, in specific cases — for example, where a project employs innovative technologies, contributes to blue carbon restoration, or presents a higher risk of significantly altering baseline scenarios — the submission of a separate Monitoring Report is strongly recommended. This additional step ensures that project outcomes remain transparent, credible, and fully aligned with MUCR’s standards for high-integrity carbon credits.

The monitoring report will undergo thorough verification and validation procedures, ensuring that any modifications to the project are accurately documented and assessed. 


These elements state above collectively contribute to the successful development of a carbon project within the MUCR, ensuring the compliance with rigorous environmental standards and paving the way for the generation of carbon credits and the promotion of sustainable practices. 

Verification and Validation report and audits   


Once your Project Design Document (PDD) and supporting documents are complete, the critical phase of verification and validation audits begins, carried out by accredited Verification and Validation Bodies (VVBs). These audits are essential steps in the process of earning carbon credits.


Validation is the initial checkpoint, a one-off process unless there is a material change to the PDD. During validation, an independent VVB reviews your project to ensure that it meets the stringent criteria outlined in your PDD. This step provides the ‘green light’, confirming that your project is well-founded, environmentally sound, and aligned with its stated objectives.


Verification, in contrast, is an ongoing process conducted at regular intervals. It involves periodic assessments by VVBs to confirm that your project continues to operate in line with its validated design. Verification ensures that your project maintains its intended environmental impact and complies with the methodologies and standards defined in the PDD.


Together, verification and validation are pivotal because they provide assurance that carbon projects deliver genuine environmental benefits. These audits uphold transparency, accountability, and credibility - cornerstones of carbon market integrity. They prevent double-counting, confirm emissions reductions or removals, and demonstrate that projects are making a real contribution to addressing climate change.


Verification and validation serve as the gateways to issuing carbon credits. Without them, the environmental impact of a project cannot be confirmed. By completing these audits, Project Proponents demonstrate their commitment to transparency and accountability. The credits issued following successful verification provide tangible evidence of a project’s contribution to climate action and can then be traded, sold, or used to offset emissions - driving sustainability efforts and encouraging further investment in carbon reduction and removal initiatives.


Issuance of the credits 


Once all relevant documents - including the Project Design Document (PDD), Methodology, and Monitoring Report - have been successfully validated, each subsequent verification allows the Project Proponent to issue the predetermined number of carbon credits specified in the verified documentation.


These carbon credits represent a quantified reduction or removal of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions achieved by the project. Their issuance is strictly contingent upon the confirmation of results during the verification process, ensuring that only genuine and measurable outcomes are credited.


This system guarantees transparency and accountability in carbon offset projects by providing a robust mechanism for generating and trading carbon credits based on actual, independently verified emission reductions. By doing so, MUCR strengthens confidence in Mauritius’s role as a trusted hub for high-integrity carbon markets.