Organizational Ethos

At Verra, we are steadfast in our mission to tackle the most pressing global environmental and social challenges. We believe that market-based solutions are one of the most effective and efficient ways for doing so and are committed to building rigorous and robust standards programs that underpin these markets. Our standards programs enable these markets to work seamlessly by credibly measuring and certifying the impact of activities as diverse as avoiding deforestation, capturing carbon, and reducing plastic waste. Our programs reflect the highest integrity, advance innovation, and build trust in environmental and social markets.

We have a deep understanding of the largest market in this space, the voluntary carbon market (VCM). The VCM has a robust foundation and solid track record, but is also complex and evolving, requiring a nuanced understanding and bold action coupled with continual refinement.

At Verra, we recognize that meaningful progress requires bold action that we take today. In the face of a dire climate emergency, waiting for perfect solutions is not an option. Instead, we must embrace bold, pragmatic actions that may not be perfect, but have immediate, measurable impact and are backed by science and robust environmental and social safeguards.

Such bold, pragmatic actions lie in what others have called the “messy middle”—the space between idealistic aspirations and practical, evidence-based decisions. These actions do not represent compromises or half measures, but the courageous, pragmatic work of balancing scientific rigor, human needs, and economic realities with the urgent need to advance climate action.

This approach makes Verra a critical force for the VCM, which in and of itself is a vital bridge between what we aspire to achieve and what we can do today. While we work on scaling and strengthening this market, we also know that every tonne of carbon removed from the atmosphere, every forest protected, and every community uplifted represent tangible, real progress toward the sustainable future we aspire to create.

Here is how we make sure that our programs achieve credible impact as we are continuing to evolve and update them:

At Verra, we are advancing impactful solutions with work grounded in rigorous research and developed in collaboration with the most-experienced technical experts and market practitioners around the world.

In collaboration with these stakeholders, we build programs and methodologies that reflect the most recent scientific findings, incorporate the latest technologies, and are based on the best-available data, making our programs as credible and effective as they are impactful.

By setting an example for how to support credible and measurable outcomes, this approach helps to strengthen the very foundations of the VCM.

One of our guiding principles is simple yet powerful: “When we know better, we do better.”

To effectively advance this important market and help catalyze its impacts, we are guided by the philosophy of “Assess and Address.” Under this approach, we forge ahead with building and implementing innovative high-quality climate solutions, but also do not shy away from assessing and resolving any challenges or risks we come across or updates that become necessary. We diligently monitor outcomes, embrace feedback, and integrate new science and technology into our work, so our standards programs remain credible, robust, and impactful. We also foster new approaches that evolve alongside technological advancements and real-world challenges.

We are committed to learning, adapting, and updating our programs as we unearth new insights and integrate new scientific findings, technologies, and the latest best practices. At every stage, we remain vigilant, ensuring our systems are robust enough to prevent misuse and adaptable enough to meet emerging needs.

The VCM is one of the most effective tools for driving finance to climate action and sustainable development. It channels resources into vital efforts like conserving ecosystems, empowering communities, and reducing emissions—at a scale that philanthropic giving and public funding alone could never achieve.

We work tirelessly so our standards programs enable the further scaling of this important tool by developing new methodologies and expanding existing ones, creating new pathways for driving finance to activities that advance climate action. Our methodologies encompass both nature-based solutions as well as energy-related and industrial approaches.

Our work is guided by a sense of responsibility for the planet and the people who inhabit it. Verra’s standards programs include guidelines for the equitable sharing of project benefits among stakeholders, including Indigenous Peoples and local communities, who are vital stewards of the ecosystems we aim to protect and who are often most affected by climate change.

Verra is committed to furthering transparency in the VCM to strengthen trust in a system capable of delivering real-world climate impact and to foster open dialogue.

Our registry makes all information about projects publicly available and stakeholders are invited to submit feedback about projects during the public comment period. Our complete collection of methodologies is online, free, and available for anyone to download. Verra also holds public consultations on program updates, methodology revisions, and new methodologies. The Verra Project Hub gives project proponents access to up-to-date information about their projects.

Transparency is the cornerstone for a credible and robust market, and Verra is ready to deliver and expand it to help the VCM evolve and scale.

Our vision is clear: to build a stronger, more resilient VCM that delivers measurable climate impact now as we work to create an equitable, sustainable future for all. With every credit issued and every sustainable development goal advanced, we are transforming today’s challenges into opportunities for a better tomorrow.

This is the essence of Verra’s ethos: to bring about change today while we bridge the gap between what we can do now and what we must achieve. At Verra, we embrace this vision and turn it into action, delivering impactful solutions that ensure our planet’s viability for generations to come.