News
23/10/2025
Press Release
CAD Trust launches Data Model Version 2.0
Version 2.0 is an enhanced baseline for harmonising carbon registry data, supporting greater registry interoperability and public good use cases while improving infrastructure performance.
Singapore, 23 October 2025
The Data Model Version 2.0 delivers significant enhancements and is the result of extensive engagement with market participants and learnings over the past three years of operationalising a common data model. It will advance CAD Trust’s mission in providing trusted and harmonised carbon credit data and support diverse use cases in Article 6 compliance reporting, cross-registry data reconciliation and capacity building in carbon markets.
Version 2.0 was developed through extensive stakeholder engagement with our Technical Committee and onboarded registries, through a public consultation launched in June 2025, and strategic collaborations with other data standardisation initiatives including the Common Carbon Credit Data Model (CCCDM) developed by the Climate Data Steering Committee (CDSC) Secretariat as input into the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group and the Carbon Data Open Protocol (CDOP). It also responds to consolidated change requests raised through the User Forum and Double Counting Taskforce over the years.
For a better understanding of the context and design rationale for Version 2.0, please access our Data Model Version 2.0 Report.
Version 2.0 refines the logic of entity tables, removes redundancies, and streamlines data structures to accommodate a broader diversity of registry architectures and entity relationships.
Key changes in Version 2.0 include:
- Enhancement of Location table (“location map type” field) to support input of various geographic data formats
- Addition of Methodology and Project Methodology tables to support input of multiple methodologies per project and versioning control
- Enhancement of Unit table (“unit retirement detail” and “unit retirement beneficiary” fields) to capture more comprehensive credit retirement information
- Restructuring of Validation and Verification tables to support complexity of the process
- Addition of Labels table to facilitate input of credit eligibility labels and label type
- Addition of Article 6 Agreed Electronic Reporting (AEF) data tables to support compliance reporting use cases
- Addition of Program and Stakeholder tables to track multiple participants of a project and multiple program-level groupings
Access the Version 2.0 documentation:
“As markets mature, trust in carbon data will define their credibility,” said Federico Di Credico, Interim CEO of CAD Trust. “Version 2.0 will make it easier to access key registry data on our platform and has already informed the industry movement towards common data practices. It is a milestone which will help build integrity into market infrastructure by design.”
The launch of the CAD Trust Data Model Version 2.0 reinforces the importance of data and systems interoperability as a foundation for credible carbon markets. CAD Trust remains committed to advancing collaboration across public, private, and international partners to ensure harmonised data flows that support effective climate action.
Connected registries will need to make integration adjustments by remapping their data to the new structure and adapting to the new API. The migration process will cause minimal disruptions to operations as registries can leverage on past integration knowledge and existing infrastructure. Moving forward, all registries will be onboarded to CAD Trust with Version 2.0.
Media Contact:
About CAD Trust
Climate Action Data Trust (CAD Trust) is a public metadata platform that links, aggregates and harmonises all major carbon registry data to enhance access to information and support transparent accounting in line with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The CAD Trust open-source metadata system uses blockchain technology to create a decentralised record of carbon market activity with the aim to avoid double counting, increase trust in carbon credit data and build confidence in carbon markets.
