A Message from Verra’s CEO

In the past few weeks, the geopolitical landscape has changed dramatically, and many have been discussing what the future holds for the voluntary carbon market (VCM). The short answer is that none of us knows for sure. The longer answer is that, as we know all too well in the VCM, climate solutions must come from everywhere, and we cannot rely solely on government action to drive change.

In this moment of political retreat, the VCM stands out as a resilient force, as it’s a mechanism that doesn’t depend on the whims of elections or shifts in political priorities. For more on my thoughts about this, read my op-ed.

I remain committed to ensuring Verra is healthy and well-positioned to support those who still wish to achieve real climate action.

Mandy Rambharos, Verra CEO

Welcome to Verra’s February newsletter!

This year has gotten off to a busy start, and we are excited to share a number of updates with you today.

Verra recently welcomed the Peruvian government’s official recognition of Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program as an eligible mechanism for certifying carbon credits, allowing VCS-certified projects to be registered in Peru’s national carbon registry. The respective governmental resolution includes VCS methodologies VM0047 Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation, v1.0 and VM0048 Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, v1.0, strengthening Peru’s ability to use carbon markets, specifically nature-based approaches, to advance its climate goals.

We extend our sincere congratulations to Robin Rix, our chief legal, risk, and governance officer, on his appointment as the new president of the Climate Action Reserve (CAR). Over the past four years, Robin has been instrumental in advancing our mission, strengthening the integrity of the voluntary carbon market, and guiding our organization through a period of significant progress and evolution. We are confident that his experience and commitment to high-integrity climate solutions will serve CAR and the voluntary carbon market exceptionally well.

Mark your calendars! We are opening a public consultation on our Scope 3 Standard (S3S) Program in early March. The S3S Program will deliver an innovative suite of harmonized requirements and guidance that is designed to drive immediate and large-scale investment in value chain climate action.

We will share details about the consultation on our website, through our LinkedIn and Bluesky accounts, and via email (select “I’m interested in Scope 3”). In the meantime, we invite you to learn more about Verra’s S3S Program.

Thought Leadership

As the markets evolve, so does our thinking. Below are the most recent pieces that offer a window into the insights of Verra’s many thought leaders as they grapple with this complicated, ever-evolving sector.

Impact Story Spotlight: Mahogany Plantation in India Project

“If you wish to achieve financial stability through farming, I encourage you to plant at least one acre of mahogany,” says Pravin Atmaram Jadhav, a smallholder farmer in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

Jadhav is part of the Mahogany Plantation in India Project, which has transformed the lives of 4,000 farmers and led to the planting of 3.1 million mahogany trees across India. By growing trees alongside their crops, participating farmers practice sustainable agroforestry that drives positive environmental impact while enabling them to provide for their families.

Registered with Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard Program and developed by Mahogani Vishwa Agro Limited (external), the project implements Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) activities. The trees remove carbon from the air, and for each tonne of carbon removed, a carbon credit is issued and sold on the global voluntary carbon market. For every carbon credit sold, the farmers receive 70% of the profit, which supplements their income.

Read the Full Impact StoryButton Icon

If you are part of a Verra-registered project, we invite you to share your story! From milestone credit issuances to moments of community impact, we want to hear what your project has accomplished. We will feature selected stories across our website, on our social media channels, and in future issues of this newsletter.

Interested in participating in this initiative? Please send an email to communications@verra.org with your project ID and a brief description of the impact you would like to highlight.2

Program Updates

Verified Carbon Standard Program

New Resources

Regular Updates

Upcoming Verra-Hosted Webinars

We will also host quarterly stakeholder update webinars throughout the year. Register today!

Verra Staff at Events

Join Verra at Circularity, the premier gathering of professionals advancing solutions for the circular economy (April 29–May 1, 2025, in Denver, CO). Along with other members of the growing circularity community, you will gain insights to move beyond incremental action, catalyze systems change, and accelerate the shift to a circular economy. Register by February 21 to lock in $800 in best rate savings (external), plus use code C25V for an extra 10% off. That’s a total savings of over $1,000 on the Final Rate.

For a comprehensive list of all upcoming events, please check our Events page. If you’d like to invite a Verra team member to speak at your event, please contact events@verra.org.

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