Data and Insights

VCS Quarterly Update

Issue #8 - Q3/2021

Main Takeaways

Record quarterly and monthly VCU issuances

85,638,136 VCUs were issued in Q3/2021 — a quarterly record. 39,176,259 VCUs were issued In September 2021 alone – a monthly record.

Strong VCU issuances from AFOLU projects

46,154,432 VCUs were issued in Q3/2021 from AFOLU projects — a quarterly record.

Increased VCU retirements

23,499,777 VCUs were retired in Q3/2021.

VCS Data and Insights – Q3/2021
Projects
2,102
total projects
1,745
projects registered
357
projects in the pipeline*
*A pipeline project is a project in the early phases of project development and implementation that is listed on the Verra registry and is currently undergoing or has completed its 30-day public comment period.
Summary Totals to Date
VCU ISSUANCES* (Total to Date)

*One VCU represents one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent that was removed from the atmosphere or not emitted.

Greenhouse gas equivalencies for emission reductions and removals were calculated using the EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator

769,965,785
VCUs
167,452,092
cars taken off the road
for a year
422,205,047 Non-AFOLU* VCUs
347,760,738 AFOLU* VCUs
234,350,906 AFOLU* VCUs with CCB Label**
Hover with your cursor over the bar to see what these emission reductions are equivalent to
*AFOLU – Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use
**VCUs with the CCB label were issued by projects that are validated to the CCB Standards and have verified climate, community and biodiversity benefits for the same verification period in which the VCUs were generated.
AFOLU and Non-AFOLU Issuances Over Time
AFOLU Issuances
Non-AFOLU Issuances
Total Issuances
AFOLU Issuances
Non-AFOLU Issuances
Retirements to Date
VCUs that have been purchased and taken off the market forever; a retired VCU represents a carbon offset
388,513,294
VCUs
84,493,837
cars taken off the road
for a year
232,648,686 Non-AFOLU* VCUs
155,864,608 AFOLU* VCUs
99,252,050 AFOLU* VCUs with CCB Label**
*AFOLU – Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use
**VCUs with the CCB label were issued by projects that are validated to the CCB Standards and have verified climate, community and biodiversity benefits for the same verification period in which the VCUs were generated.
Project-Specific Data
Projects by Region
Region Projects Percentage of Total
Asia 1,211 69.4%
North America 100 5.7%
South and Central America 262 15%
Oceania 8 0.5%
Africa 109 6.2%
Europe 55 3.2%
VCU Issuances by Region
Region VCUs Percentage of Total
Asia 406,257,025 59.4%
North America 30,811,829 4.5%
South and Central America 154,194,127 22.5%
Oceania 2,330,511 0.3%
Africa 79,452,712 11.6%
Europe 11,322,682 1.7%
AFOLU* Projects
by Region
Region Projects Percentage of Total
Asia 58 26.4%
North America 12 5.5%
South and Central America 91 41.4%
Oceania 6 2.7%
Africa 52 23.6%
Europe 1 0.5%
AFOLU* VCU Issuances
by Region
Region VCUs Percentage of Total
Asia 114,322,034 32.9%
North America 4,419,579 1.3%
South and Central America 149,218,149 42.9%
Oceania 2,652,575 0.8%
Africa 77,141,777 22.2%
Europe 6,624 0%
*AFOLU – Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use
AFOLU* Projects by Project Type
Type Projects Percentage of Total
WRC 1 0.5%
REDD 82 37.6%
ALM 8 3.7%
IFM 24 11%
ARR 103 47.2%
VCU Issuances by AFOLU* Project Type
Type VCUs Percentage of Total
WRC 33,625,616 9.7%
REDD 234,391,881 67.4%
ALM 276,740,727 79.6%
IFM 9,209,988 2.6%
ARR 26,786,827 7.7%
*AFOLU – Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use

ALM – Agricultural Land Management
ARR – Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegation
IFM – Improved Forest Management
REDD – Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
WRC – Wetland Restoration and Conservation

Download Source Data File