The Label Bas-Carbone: a French certification for local climate projects
Launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, the Label Bas-Carbone (LBC) is the official French certification for projects that reduce or sequester greenhouse gas emissions. It allows companies, local authorities, and individuals to fund certified local projects that contribute to the fight against climate change, while providing environmental, economic, and social co-benefits for French territories.
Unlike international standards such as Gold Standard or VCS, which primarily fund projects in developing countries, the Label Bas-Carbone relies on a strong territorial focus: all labelled projects are located in metropolitan France or in overseas territories. An approach that is increasingly attractive to companies looking to combine climate commitment with support for local stakeholders.
Sectors eligible for the Label Bas-Carbone
The LBC covers a range of promising sectors with high potential for sequestration or emission avoidance. "Methods" — essentially technical specifications — are defined for each type of project to govern the calculation of emission reductions and ensure their credibility.
Agriculture and livestock
The agricultural sector has the largest number of validated methods, reflecting its central role in carbon storage in soils and emission reduction. Among the recognised practices:
- Arable crops: development of intermediate cover crops, reduced tillage, introduction of legumes into rotations
- Cattle farming: improved grassland management, optimisation of animal feed to reduce enteric methane emissions
- Hedgerows and bocage: planting and maintaining hedgerows, which store carbon while promoting biodiversity and fighting erosion
- Orchards and viticulture: agroecological practices specific to fruit growing and winemaking
Forestry and afforestation
Forestry is a pillar of the Label Bas-Carbone. Forest methods make it possible to quantify the carbon stored in woody biomass and in forest soils. Eligible projects include:
- Afforestation and reforestation of abandoned or degraded agricultural land
- Improved forestry practices to increase carbon storage (extending rotation periods, diversifying tree species)
- Conservation of old-growth forests with high carbon value
Other developing sectors
The LBC is gradually expanding to new areas:
- Transport: converting fleets of combustion engine vehicles to lower-emission alternatives
- Buildings: high-performance energy renovation of residential or commercial buildings
- Energy: replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy in specific contexts
- Wetlands: restoration of peatlands and wetlands, which are natural carbon sinks
How the certification works: step by step
The Label Bas-Carbone certification process is rigorous, transparent, and multi-stakeholder. It guarantees the environmental integrity of the carbon credits generated.
Step 1: preparing the project file
The project developer (farmer, forest owner, municipality, company) uses a validated method to prepare their file. This file describes the practices implemented, the area or scope involved, the commitment period (generally 5 to 20 years), and the projected calculation of emission reductions or sequestration.
Step 2: validation by an independent auditor
An accredited verification body (independent inspection bureau) reviews the file, visits the site if necessary, and validates the project's compliance with the applicable method. This step ensures that the calculation assumptions are realistic and that the practices are actually being implemented.
Step 3: registration and credit sales
Once validated, the project is registered on a public and transparent platform. Carbon credits, expressed in tonnes of CO2e, are issued and can be purchased by funders wishing to support the project and offset part of their residual emissions.
Step 4: monitoring and periodic verification
Throughout the project's duration, periodic verifications confirm that practices are maintained and that the expected emission reductions are materialising. If a hazard (fire, storm) destroys part of the planned sequestration, buffer mechanisms ensure the overall integrity of the credit pool.
"The Label Bas-Carbone is the only standard that guarantees your offset euros fund real, audited, and local projects, with direct benefits for French farmers and forests."
— Report from the General Commission for Sustainable Development, 2024
Co-benefits: beyond carbon
One of the major assets of the Label Bas-Carbone lies in the collateral benefits of funded projects. A hedgerow project, for example, does not just store carbon:
- Biodiversity: hedgerows form essential ecological corridors for pollinating insects, birds, and small mammals
- Water quality: hedgerow roots filter nitrates and reduce runoff, protecting waterways
- Flood prevention: bocage landscapes slow down runoff and limit flooding
- Farm resilience: hedgerows provide shade for livestock, firewood, and windbreaks that protect crops
- Additional farm income: selling carbon credits provides a direct supplementary income for participating farmers
How much does a Label Bas-Carbone credit cost?
The price of labelled carbon credits varies depending on the projects, their location, their biodiversity impact, and associated co-benefits. In 2024-2025, prices observed on the French market generally range between 25 and 80 euros per tonne of CO2e.
This range is significantly higher than that of lower-quality international carbon credits (sometimes available for just a few euros per tonne), but it reflects:
- The rigour of the certification process
- Verification and monitoring costs
- The added value of local co-benefits
- The premium linked to French territorial anchoring
Label Bas-Carbone vs other standards: how to choose?
The choice between the Label Bas-Carbone and international standards depends on the objectives of the company or organisation doing the funding:
- Priority on territorial connection: the LBC is the natural choice for companies wishing to fund projects in France and communicate to an audience that values local origin
- Priority on volume: international standards offer much larger volumes of credits, suited to companies with large quantities of emissions to offset
- Priority on price: LBC credits are more expensive than some international credits, but their quality and traceability are superior
- Complementarity: many companies combine LBC credits for French residual emissions and international credits for global emissions
For a complete overview of the available options for offsetting, our complete guide to carbon offsetting will help you choose the strategy best suited to your situation. And to discover concrete certified projects already funded, our article on certified carbon offset projects will introduce you to inspiring initiatives.
Conclusion: a young but ambitious label, serving the French agricultural and forestry transition
In just a few years, the Label Bas-Carbone has established itself as the French reference for quality carbon offsetting. With more than 200 projects registered by the end of 2024 and hundreds more in development, it demonstrates that it is possible to mobilise private funding in service of the agroecological and forestry transition of French territories. For companies seeking a credible, transparent carbon offset with strong local added value, the Label Bas-Carbone offers a solid answer — provided it is accompanied by a sincere and documented effort to reduce emissions at the source.