Over-crediting remains a key concern in charcoal-based cookstove projects — and one parameter quietly fueling this risk is the wood-to-charcoal conversion factor. In this research post, we unpack how this variable affects claimed emission reductions, why current defaults may be too conservative (or not conservative enough), and how Calyx Global evaluates WTC factors within project ratings. 

It is no secret that cookstove projects can face high risks of over-crediting. Across over 200 cookstove projects rated by Calyx Global, over-crediting has the greatest impact on the overall greenhouse gas (GHG) integrity, significantly shifting the ratings distribution