Verra is relaunching the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program Advisory Group to help align the VCS Program with the global ambition to halve global GHG emissions by 2030 and reach net zero global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by mid-century.
We invite interested stakeholders to apply by 27 March 2023.
CONTEXT
The VCS Program is the world’s leading GHG crediting program. It drives finance toward activities that reduce and remove emissions, improve livelihoods, and protect nature, and it is a critical and evolving component in the urgent ongoing effort to stabilize the global climate and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The previous cohort of the VCS Program Advisory Group advised Verra on the development and implementation of VCS Version 4, released in 2019. Since then, there have been significant changes to the context in which the VCS operates; for example, both state and non-state actors have raised ambition in their programs and policies to address the climate challenge.
SCOPE
The VCS Program Advisory Group will be a strategic resource to support the near- and long-term progress of the VCS Program in meeting the integrity needs of the evolving carbon market and achieving greater impact. Its purpose is to bring together a group of independent, world-class experts whose knowledge and perspectives complement the expertise of Verra’s Board members, staff, and other advisory groups and committees. They will guide and inform strategic thinking on various programmatic issues, including:
- Ensuring the VCS Program and associated methodologies maintain the highest quality and integrity by incorporating the latest science and research, best practices, lessons learned, and new technologies;
- Keeping the VCS Program relevant to the global path to net-zero GHG emissions and defining its role in the net-zero world;
- Maximizing the sustainable development benefits of the VCS and ensuring that enhanced safeguards consistently prevent negative consequences of VCS projects;
- Supporting increased government action and ambition and integrating the VCS with broader carbon markets and climate action initiatives (e.g., NDCs and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, domestic carbon markets, climate finance);
- Considering new approaches to the VCS Program’s principles (relevance, completeness, consistency, accuracy, transparency, and conservativeness) and the VCS Program’s fundamental processes (such as baseline-setting, monitoring, verification, and avoiding double-counting) for greater integrity and impact;
- Aligning with carbon market integrity initiatives and emerging best practices;
- Exploring how Verra can further catalyze voluntary climate action through complementary actions such as supply chain (Scope 3) emissions reductions and developing guidance for Verified Carbon Unit (VCU) buyers;
- Improving the usability of project data and refining the development of VCU labels, including differentiating GHG removal activities from reductions and avoidance.
We are seeking a diverse group of global experts representing academic institutions, government and multilateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, and VCS project stakeholders (e.g., project developers, assessment experts such as validation/verification bodies, and end users such as corporate buyers). Members will also be selected to maximize diverse experiences and perspectives based on geographic location, professional background, expertise, gender, age, and other related qualities.
More information about desired qualifications, group composition and operation, time commitments, and application instructions can be found in the VCS Program Advisory Group Terms of Reference (PDF). We invite stakeholders to apply by 27 March 2023. We expect to finalize selection of VCS Program Advisory Group members by mid-April 2023 and convene the first meeting soon thereafter.
Please send any questions to programupdates@verra.org.
