Verra has rejected 37 projects that use the UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) methodology, AMS-III.AU.: Methane emission reduction by adjusted water management practice in rice cultivation. All rejected projects are based in China.
Verra had paused and then inactivated AMS-III.AU in early 2023 per section 5 of the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Methodology Development and Review Process (PDF). Following the methodology’s inactivation, Verra conducted quality control reviews of all registered projects using AMS-III.AU in accordance with section 6 of the VCS Registration and Issuance Process (PDF).
During the quality control review, Verra identified several issues with the projects related to insufficient demonstration of additionality, projects being designated as small scale, project areas being overstated, and the lack of sufficient evidence to confirm the baseline and project scenario implementation. These concerns were also supported by an analysis of remote sensing data.
Verra is seeking compensation for excess issuance of Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) from the respective project proponents.
Actions Against Validation/Verification Bodies (VVBs)
Verra issued non-conformity reports to the four VVBs that had validated the rejected projects: China Classification Society Certification Company, China Quality Certification Center, Shenzhen CTI International Certification Co., Ltd, and TÜV Nord Cert GmbH.
The organizations have 15 days to demonstrate a strong corrective action plan to prevent issues from recurring. Failing to do so, these VVBs face temporary suspension by Verra to conduct audits of other projects under VCS sectoral scope 14: Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU).
The following is a list of projects registered in the VCS Program that are using AMS-III.AU. Those that have issued VCUs are indicated with an asterisk (*).
| Project Number | Location |
|---|---|
| 2362* | Tongcheng City |
| 2396* | Nanling County |
| 2397* | Chizhou City |
| 2398* | Qiantai |
| 2399* | Wangjiang County, Susong County |
| 2476* | Huaining |
| 2477* | Wanfan |
| 2504* | Xuanzhou District |
| 2506* | Northern Lujiang County |
| 2507* | Southern Lujiang County |
| 2629* | South Jiangjin District |
| 2630 | Yongchuan District |
| 2631* | Dazu District |
| 2632* | Eastern Hechuan District |
| 2633* | Nanchuan District |
| 2634* | Tongnan District |
| 2769* | Pinghu City |
| 2770 | Yulin |
| 2771* | Futong |
| 2845 | QiDa |
| 2850 | Chishui |
| 2851 | Xihuai |
| 2853 | Yufeng |
| 2854 | Hongmei |
| 2855 | Zhengtongsui |
| 2856 | Wudao |
| 2891 | Jiangxia District |
| 2892 | Wuxue City |
| 2894 | Xinzhou District |
| 2899* | Dawu County |
| 2902* | Huangmei County |
| 2903* | Xiqochang County |
| 2909* | Yingcheng City |
| 2910* | Wude |
| 2911* | Haiyan County |
| 2912* | Tongxiang City |
| 2917* | Shengzhou City |
Forthcoming New Rice Methodology
Verra is currently developing a new rice methodology in the VCS Program that proponents of rice cultivation projects can use. The new methodology will enable project proponents to credibly achieve emission reductions and generate high-quality VCUs. The methodology will incorporate clear and concise guidance as well as efficient processes for the determination of additionality, quantification of emission reductions, and transparent data and measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) procedures. The public consultation for the new methodology closed in July 2024, and Verra expects to release the final methodology later this year.