WASHINGTON – Jan. 30, 2026 | Verra has applied the first labels confirming CORSIA eligibility to 4,776,194 credits issued by the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program, indicating that the program is ready to support demand in the international aviation market.

The first batch of labeled credits comes from DelAgua-led projects in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia, which implement activities like clean cooking and other household energy transitions that deliver both emission reductions and measurable community benefits. (The specific Verra project IDs are: 3699, 3837, 4000, and 4150.)

The labeled credits are now clearly identified in the Verra Registry and available to buyers participating in CORSIA’s first phase (2024–2026). Credits from additional projects are expected to be labeled in the coming months.

“This is a practical example of how Verra infrastructure is evolving to meet global climate goals, supporting real-world action at scale. As the first labeled credits of their kind in Verra’s system, these CORSIA-eligible credits demonstrate what’s possible when strong standards, national governments, and market actors work together.”

Mandy Rambharos, CEO, Verra

The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) established by the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is set to become one of the most important compliance markets for emission reductions.

This development also reflects Verra’s ongoing work to put Article 6 of the Paris Agreement into practice. Under CORSIA rules, any carbon credits issued by Verra from 2021 onwards must carry an Article 6 Authorized—International Mitigation Purposes label to be eligible. To make sure credits meet these requirements, Verra works closely with host governments to review their Letters of Authorization (LOAs), confirming that all the necessary details are clearly specified, such as the eligible vintages, volumes, and other key approval terms.

“We’re proud to be the first project developer to receive CORSIA first phase eligible credits on the Verra Registry. This achievement reflects years of close collaboration, robust monitoring, and a shared commitment to environmental integrity. It shows that high-impact projects delivering tangible benefits to communities can also meet the stringent requirements of international aviation and global carbon markets. This is a significant step toward scaling credible climate action across the clean cooking sector. This will mean that we will be able to transform millions more lives through our high-integrity, high-impact clean cooking program.”

Euan McDougall, CEO, DelAgua

Contact:

Media Inquiries: Erdem Koch | media@verra.org

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Verra is a global leader helping to tackle the world’s most intractable environmental and social challenges. As a mission-driven nonprofit organization, Verra is committed to helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve livelihoods, and protect natural resources by working with the private and public sectors. We support climate action and sustainable development with standards programs and tools that credibly, transparently, and robustly assess environmental and social impacts and enable funding for sustaining and scaling up projects that verifiably deliver these benefits.