A New Vision for Climate Projects: Centering Community Wellbeing
We’re thrilled to announce the publication of our newest paper in Regional Science & Environmental Economics: “Integrating Community Wellbeing into Natural Climate Solutions: A Framework for Enhanced Verification Standards and Project Permanence”
Authored by Beth Allgood, John Waugh, Craig A. Talmage, Dehara Weeraman, and Laura Musikanski, the paper argues that Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) will only succeed in the long term if they also support the well-being of the people who live with—and care for—the land.
🌀 What’s the challenge?
Too often, carbon credit projects and other NCS efforts fail to deliver lasting outcomes because they overlook one essential factor: people. When communities are left out of planning and evaluation—or when their well-being isn’t measured—projects become vulnerable to resistance, breakdown, or failure.
đź“Š Our solution: A new framework
This paper introduces a practical, scalable model that:
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Combines five core tenets for meaningful community participation
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Outlines nine essential domains for assessing community well-being
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Proposes an integrated verification standard for both social and environmental impact
💡 The goal? A more equitable, transparent, and resilient standard for climate action—one that recognises community well-being as fundamental to project permanence and success.
🌍 Whether you’re a project developer, carbon verifier, government official, or climate funder, this framework can guide you in aligning your efforts with the realities and aspirations of the communities on the frontlines of climate mitigation.
đź”— Read the full open-access paper here:
https://www.mdpi.com/3042-4658/2/3/22
We’re so grateful to all who contributed to this research—and we hope it sparks new thinking, stronger standards, and more regenerative models of climate action.
Let’s design climate solutions that truly last—because they work for people and the planet.
With gratitude,
🌿 The OneNature Team
