This article explains why the binary 'permanent or impermanent' framing of carbon credits is unhelpful for buyers. Two new white papers from Yale, The Nature Conservancy, RMI, and others propose a spectrum-based concept called durability, with clear vocabulary and a menu of mechanisms to manage reversal risk. Key mechanisms include buffer pools, insurance, carbon trust funds, vertical and horizontal stacking, and accounting strategies. The article gives corporate buyers practical steps: match the durability mechanism to the climate claim, understand liability and compensation tools, and combine mechanisms for better risk management.
