Stage 1 focuses on what your organisation and key partners need to do internally to generate verified emissions reductions (VERs) — this includes planning actions, assigning responsibilities, and setting timeframes.

This stage involves:

• Establishing baseline emissions data
• Defining project boundaries and scope
• Developing monitoring methodologies
• Creating verification protocols
• Assigning internal responsibilities
• Setting implementation timelines

Stage 2 focuses on how carbon revenue will be used externally — what outcomes different stakeholder groups want to achieve, and how those contribute to social and environmental impact.

This stage addresses:

• Community benefit distribution
• Stakeholder-defined outcomes
• Social impact measurement
• Environmental co-benefits
• Long-term sustainability planning
• Shared value creation

When mapping stakeholders relevant to Stage 1:

• Focus on technical partners and implementers
• Identify regulatory and certification bodies
• Include carbon market intermediaries
• Map internal team responsibilities
• Consider verification and validation experts

When mapping stakeholders relevant to Stage 2:

• Prioritize community representatives and beneficiaries
• Include environmental interest groups
• Consider local governance structures
• Map ecosystem service users
• Identify potential revenue recipients

Power dynamics in Stage 1 often revolve around:

• Technical expertise and certification authority
• Financial resources and investment decisions
• Regulatory compliance and approval processes
• Carbon methodology knowledge
• Project implementation capacity

Power dynamics in Stage 2 typically involve:

• Community representation and voice
• Benefit-sharing decision-making
• Local knowledge and cultural context
• Historical resource rights
• Impact monitoring and feedback mechanisms

When assessing benefits for each stakeholder:

• Consider both Stage 1 benefits (e.g., carbon revenue generation, technical capacity)
• And Stage 2 benefits (e.g., improved livelihoods, ecosystem services)
• Document how benefits in one stage may depend on the other
• Note differences in how benefits are perceived and valued

Similarly, analyze risks across both stages:

• Stage 1 risks may include verification challenges or methodology issues
• Stage 2 risks often involve equity concerns or unintended consequences
• Document how risks in one stage might affect the other
• Consider risk mitigation strategies appropriate to each stage

Engagement strategies for Stage 1 stakeholders typically focus on:

• Technical workshops and training
• Formal agreements and contracts
• Structured reporting and documentation
• Compliance verification
• Expert consultation

Engagement strategies for Stage 2 stakeholders often include:

• Participatory planning processes
• Community meetings and dialogue
• Benefit-sharing discussions
• Local capacity building
• Culturally appropriate communication

Consider how these stages align with your project timeline:

• Stage 1 activities typically begin earlier and may have more defined timelines
• Stage 2 activities often evolve and extend throughout the project lifecycle
• Document how key milestones in each stage affect stakeholders
• Plan for transition points between stages

Remember that both stages require long-term planning:

• Stage 1 continues through monitoring, reporting, and verification
• Stage 2 extends to sustained benefit-sharing and impact
• Both require adaptive management as stakeholder needs evolve