Verra has opened a public consultation on a major revision (methodology development ID #M0387) to VM0050 Energy Efficiency and Fuel-Switch Measures in Cooking Devices, v1.0 in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. The revised methodology would be published as version 2.0 of VM0050. The consultation will run from July 9 through August 10, 2026.

VM0050 applies to project activities that deploy improved cookstoves in households, communities, institutions, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. The emission reductions result either from enhanced efficiency and/or fuel switch to lower greenhouse gas-intensive fuels (i.e., involving the replacement of fossil fuels and non-renewable biomass).

The major revision is intended to strengthen the accuracy, transparency, conservativeness, and consistency of emission reduction quantification while ensuring the methodology reflects current scientific evidence, operational experience, and evolving best practices for clean cooking projects.

The proposed revision to VM0050 includes the following updates:

  • Inclusion of a MoFuSS—DS (modeling fuelwood savings scenarios—default scenarios) tool as an option for the determination of fraction of non-renewable biomass (fNRB) values
  • Removal of CDM TOOL30 as an option for the determination of fNRB
  • Inclusion of corrections and clarifications published on February 3, 2025
  • Inclusion of the Hawthorne effect in the quantification procedure for the determination of emission reduction values
  • Expansion of the scope for the use of heat retention devices and inclusion-related requirements and procedures (Appendix 6)
  • Additional guidance on the design and maintenance of control households
  • Inclusion of requirements and best practices for installing and implementing Stove Usage Monitors (SUMs), as well as carrying out Kitchen Performance Tests (KPTs) and Controlled Cooking Tests (CCTs), per the CLEAR methodology
  • Alignment with the current best practices and latest scientific understanding related to cookstove projects, where needed
  • Editorial improvements and corrections (including alignment with the latest methodology template and VCS Program rules/requirements)

This revision was developed by and is the intellectual property of Verra. Verra received technical contributions from Wonderbag SA (project developer), Promethium Carbon (consultant to Wonderbag SA), and Atmosphere Alternative (consultant to Verra).

SUBMISSION FOR ICVCM APPROVAL

In March 2025, the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) approved VM0050, v1.0 as meeting the requirements of the Core Carbon Principles (CCP) Assessment Framework. Once finalized, Verra will submit VM0050, v2.0 to the ICVCM for review of the included updates.

Feedback

Please see the proposed revision document (PDF) for the full background and details about the proposed updates.

Verra is accepting feedback through its digital public consultation platform, which is hosted on the Verra Project Hub. Stakeholders will need to use the link provided to enter their personal details, confirm their email address, and access the online consultation form. For additional guidance, please review the user guide (PDF).

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Comments may be submitted electronically via the online form by 11:59 pm Anywhere on Earth (UTC-12) on August 10, 2026. If you experience issues using the digital public consultation platform or have feedback on it, please contact hubsupport@verra.org.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: INDEPENDENT EXPERT REVIEW

In addition to the public consultation, Verra is currently accepting proposals for an independent expert review of the draft VM0050, v2.0.

For more information on the scope of work, deliverables, timelines, and requisite experience and qualifications, please see the Request for Proposals (PDF). Please submit proposals by July 31, 2026, to methodologies@verra.org.

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