Welcome to Verra’s June newsletter!
As a busy, action-filled London Climate Action Week draws to a close, the Verra delegation prepares to travel home. The team enjoyed engaging with stakeholders and joining important conversations around strategies for collectively advancing our work in this space.
We are also excited to share several important program updates with you.
Earlier today, we launched the final consultation on version 5 of the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. As the market evolves and the need to scale it increases, it is critical that Verra continues to update the VCS Program so that it continues to advance impactful, equitable, and lasting climate action with strengthened guardrails, benefiting people and the planet.
We also opened a public consultation on a minor revision to a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) methodology for grid-connected electricity generation from renewable sources (ACM0002). The proposed changes would broaden the geographical applicability of this methodology and promote the installation of renewable energy technologies in hitherto underserved regions. In a related thought piece, we lay out why we think this update is critical to advancing climate action and sustainable development.
Also this week, we announced our plan to launch a publicly usable version 0.9 of Verra’s Scope 3 Standard (S3S) Program by the end of 2025. The program will fill a critical market gap by delivering an innovative suite of harmonized requirements and guidance for addressing Scope 3 emissions. Version 1 of the S3S Program is expected to launch in Q2 2026.
Finally, we recently finalized the allocated deforestation risk maps for the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Pará, an important milestone in the operationalization of our transformative REDD methodology, VM0048. Project proponents in these states can now use these data to set the baseline for their projects, which is an essential step in the project registration process.
Important Reminder!
In April, Verra launched digital versions of multiple deeds of representation for use in the Verified Carbon Standard Program, and in June, Verra published a digital version of its Exemption Request Form.
Starting July 1, 2025, Verra will require stakeholders to submit digitalized representations and Exemption Request Forms via the Verra Project Hub and will no longer accept PDF or DOC files.
Key Updates
TOP NEWS
- Verra Launches Final Consultation on Version 5 of the VCS Program
- Consultation: Revision to CDM Methodology for Grid-Connected Electricity Generation from Renewable Sources
- Verra Prepares to Launch Publicly Usable Version of Scope 3 Standard Program in Late 2025
- Verra Finalizes Allocated Deforestation Risk Maps for Mato Grosso and Pará
GENERAL NEWS
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.
Project Spotlight
Spread across 350,000 hectares among the swamps and streams of the Indus River Delta, the world’s largest blue carbon project is underway in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Delta Blue Carbon 1 (Verra Project 2250) is protecting and restoring mangrove forests, tidal river creeks and channels, low-lying islands, and intertidal areas.
On the ground, over 11,000 community members are leading restoration efforts for the mangroves, which have incredible carbon sequestration potential. For each tonne of carbon that the mangroves remove from the atmosphere, the project earns a carbon credit, which is sold on the global voluntary carbon market. Finance from these credits goes back into the community to increase access to medical care, clean drinking water, education, and other civic services.
The first project of its kind in Pakistan, Delta Blue Carbon 1 represents a private-public partnership between project developer Indus Delta Capital and the government of Sindh—and its success has led to the development of a second project, Delta Blue Carbon 2. Protecting a combined 600,000 hectares, these projects demonstrate the ability of collective environmental action to transform ecosystems and strengthen communities.
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.
Program Updates
Verified Carbon Standard Program
- Verra Releases Updated Methodology Development and Review Process
- Verra Publishes Revision to CDM Methodology for Personal Transportation
- Verra Reopens Project Review Requests for Some Projects with Suspended VVBs
- Verra Modifies Release Process and Schedule for Allocated Deforestation Risk Maps
- Chile’s Carbon Market Grows, Illustrates Potential of Regulatory Frameworks
(Spanish version) - Verra Publishes Minor Revision to Building Weatherization Methodology
Digitalization Initiative
- Verra and Hedera to Accelerate Digital Transformation of Carbon Markets
- Verra Launches Digitalized Exemption Request Form
- June 2025 Release of Additional Digitalized Methodologies
New Resources
- Webinar recording: Overview of VM0047, v1.1 – June 4
Regular Updates
Upcoming Verra-Hosted Webinars
- Overview of Final Consultation on Version 5 of the VCS Program – Wednesday, July 9, at 11:00 am ET
Mark your calendar today for our Q3 and Q4 stakeholder update webinars!
- Stakeholder Update Webinar (July 2025) – Wednesday, July 23, at 11:00 am ET
- Stakeholder Update Webinar (October 2025) – Wednesday, October 22, at 11:00 am ET
Verra Staff at Events
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.