Methodologies for quantifying project benefits are a key component of all Verra standard programs. All methodologies undergo a rigorous review and transparent stakeholder consultation process to ensure they meet the rules and requirements of each program.
VCS Methodologies
Methodologies are essential to quantifying real and accurate greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits of a project and to generate Verified Carbon Units (VCUs). Methodologies provide requirements and procedures to determine project boundaries, identify the baseline, assess additionality, monitor the relevant parameters, and ultimately quantify the GHG emission reductions or removals.
Methodologies often refer to modules or tools, which include specific methodological tasks and analyses (e.g., additionality) that are used in conjunction with the methodology.
The VCS Program has its own methodologies that have been approved for use.
VM0001 Infrared Automatic Refrigerant Leak Detection Efficiency Project Methodology, v1.1
VM0003 Methodology for Improved Forest Management through Extension of Rotation Age, v1.3
VM0005 Methodology for Conversion of Low-productive Forest to High-productive Forest, v1.2
VM0006 Methodology for Carbon Accounting for Mosaic and Landscape-scale REDD Projects, v2.2
VM0007 REDD+ Methodology Framework (REDD-MF), v1.6
VM0008 Weatherization of Single-Family and Multi-Family Buildings, v1.1
VM0009 Methodology for Avoided Ecosystem Conversion, v3.0
VM0010 Methodology for Improved Forest Management: Conversion from Logged to Protected Forest, v1.3
VM0011 Methodology for Calculating GHG Benefits from Preventing Planned Degradation, v1.0
VM0012 Improved Forest Management in Temperate and Boreal Forests (LtPF), v1.2
VM0013 Calculating Emission Reductions from Jet Engine Washing, v1.0
VM0014 Interception and Destruction of Fugitive Methane from Coal Bed Methane (CBM) Seeps, v1.0
VM0015 Methodology for Avoided Unplanned Deforestation, v1.1
VM0016 Recovery and Destruction of Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS) from Products, v1.1
VM0018 Energy Efficiency and Solid Waste Diversion Activities within a Sustainable Community, v1.0
VM0019 Fuel Switch from Gasoline to Ethanol in Flex-Fuel Vehicle Fleets, v1.0
VM0020 Transport Energy Efficiency from Lightweight Pallets, v1.0
VM0023 Reduction of GHG Emissions in Propylene Oxide Production, v1.0
VM0024 Methodology for Coastal Wetland Creation, v1.0
VM0025 Campus Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency, v1.0
VM0026 Methodology for Sustainable Grassland Management (SGM), v1.1
VM0027 Methodology for Rewetting Drained Tropical Peatlands, v1.0
VM0029 Methodology for Avoided Forest Degradation through Fire Management, v1.0
VM0030 Methodology for Pavement Application using Sulphur Substitute, v1.0
VM0031 Methodology for Precast Concrete Production using Sulphur Substitute, v1.0
VM0033 Methodology for Tidal Wetland and Seagrass Restoration, v1.0
VM0034 Canadian Forest Carbon Offset Methodology, v2.0
VM0035 Methodology for Improved Forest Management through Reduced Impact Logging v1.0
VM0036 Methodology for Rewetting Drained Temperate Peatlands, v1.0
VM0038 Methodology for Electric Vehicle Charging Systems, v1.0
VM0042 Methodology for Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.0
VM0043 Methodology for CO2 Utilization in Concrete Production, v1.0
VM0044 Methodology for Biochar Utilization in Soil and Non-Soil Applications, v1.0
VMR0003 Revisions to AMS-III.Y to Include Use of Organic Bedding Material, v1.0
VMR0004 Revisions to AMS-III.BC to Include Mobile Machinery, v1.0
VMR0005 Methodology for Installation of Low-Flow Water Devices, v1.0
VMR0006 Methodology for Installation of High Efficiency Firewood Cookstoves, v1.1
VMD0002 Estimation of carbon stocks in the dead-wood pool (CP-D), v1.1
VMD0003 Estimation of carbon stocks in the litter pool (CP-L), v1.0
VMD0004 Estimation of stocks in the soil organic carbon pool (CP-S), v1.0
VMD0005 Estimation of carbon stocks in the long-term wood products pool (CP-W), v1.1
VMD0011 Estimation of emissions from market-effects (LK-ME), v1.0
VMD0012 Estimation of emissions from displacement of fuelwood extraction (LK-DFW), v1.0
VMD0013 Estimation of greenhouse gas emissions from biomass burning (E-BPB), v1.2
VMD0014 Estimation of emissions from fossil fuel combustion (E-FFC), v1.0
VMD0015 Methods for monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions and removals (M-REDD), v2.2
VMD0016 Methods for stratification of the project area (X-STR), v1.2
VMD0017 Estimation of uncertainty for REDD project activities (X-UNC), v2.2
VMD0018 Methods to Determine Stratification, v1.0
VMD0019 Methods to Project Future Conditions, v1.0
VMD0020 Methods to Determine Project Boundaries, v1.0
VMD0021 Estimation of Stocks in the Soil Carbon Pool, v1.0
VMD0022 Estimation of Carbon Stocks in Living Plant Biomass, v1.0
VMD0023 Estimation of Carbon Stocks in the Litter Pool, v1.0
VMD0024 Estimation of Carbon Stocks in the Dead Wood Pool, v1.0
VMD0025 Estimation of Woody Biomass Harvesting and Utilization, v1.0
VMD0026 Estimation of Carbon Stocks in the Long-Lived Wood Products Pool, v1.0
VMD0027 Estimation of Domesticated Animal Populations, v1.0
VMD0028 Estimation of Emissions from Domesticated Animals, v1.0
VMD0029 Estimation of Emissions from Non-CO2 GHGs from Soils, v1.1
VMD0030 Estimation of Emissions from Power Equipment, v1.0
VMD0031 Estimation of Emissions from Burning, v1.0
VMD0032 Estimation of Emissions from Activity-Shifting Leakage, v1.0
VMD0033 Estimation of Emissions from Market Leakage, v1.0
VMD0034 Methods for Developing a Monitoring Plan, v1.0
VMD0036 Global Commodity Leakage Module: Effective Area Approach, v1.0
VMD0037 Global Commodity Leakage Module: Production Approach, v1.0
VMD0038 Campus Clean Energy Efficiency Campus-Wide Module, v1.0
VMD0039 Campus Clean Energy Efficiency LEED-Certified Buildings Module, v1.0
VMD0040 Leakage from Displacement of Grazing Activities, v1.0
VMD0044 Estimation of emissions from ecological leakage (LK-ECO), v1.1
VMD0047 Performance Method for Reduced Impact Logging in East and North Kalimantan v1.0
VMD0049 Activity Method for Determining Additionality of Electric Vehicle Charging Systems, v1.0
Verra periodically reviews VCS methodologies to ensure they continue to reflect best practices, scientific consensus, and evolving market conditions and technical developments in a sector. Verra will conduct these reviews at least once every five years or when otherwise needed.
As a result of a review, Verra may revise the methodology. Verra may also set methodology versions previously approved under the VCS Program as inactive until a new revised version is issued.
A number of VCS methodologies are currently under development.
Methodology for Black Soldier Fly Larvae Disposing of Organic Waste
Methodology for Destination Alternate Airport
Methodology for Improved Forest Management through Adjusting Bamboo Forest Stand Structure
Methodology for In-situ Phytoremediation of Eutrophic River-estuary Systems
Methodology for Less Carbon Raw Material Conversion in Concrete Production
Methodology for On- and Off-Road Mobile Electric Vehicle and Equipment Charging
Methodology for Production of Alumina from End-of-Life Aluminum
Methodology for Transport Emissions of Cities
Methodology for Using Photocatalysts to Remove Atmospheric Nitrous Oxide
Minor Revision to VM0008: Weatherization of Single Family and MultiFamily Buildings, v1.1
Revision to ACM0001: Flaring or Use of Landfill Gas
Revision to AMS-III.BA, Small Scale Methodology: Recovery and recycling of materials from E-Waste
Tool for Measuring Height of Biomass Using Remote Sensing and Artificial Intelligence
Methodology for Accelerated Coal Fired Power Plant Retirement using Just Transition
Methodology for Arterial Traffic Control System Optimization
Methodology for Avoided Bottom Trawling
Methodology for Carbon Removals Through Seaweed Aquaculture
Methodology for Carbon Sequestration Through Cultivating Hemp
Methodology for Creation of Seaweed or Kelp Farms
Methodology for Engineered Carbonation of Mineral Waste
Methodology for Grassland-based Cattle Production
Methodology for Grid-Connected Energy Storage Systems
Methodology for Mass Timber Constructions
Methodology for Production of Substitutes that Displace the Use of Peat in Growing Media
Methodology for Production of Low-Carbon Cement and Concrete
Methodology for Recovery and Recycling of Materials from Solid Wastes
Methodology for Recycling or Repurposing Waste and Retired Batteries
Methodology for Usage of E-fuels for Shipping
Methodology for Water Purification
Methodology Framework for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage
Module for CO2 Storage via Geological Mineralization in Igneous Rock Formations
Revision to VM0016, Recovery and Destruction of Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS) from Products, v1.1
Consolidated Methodology for Improved Thermal Energy Generation Units
Methodology for Emission Reduction by Shore-Side Electricity Supply System
Methodology Framework for Carbon Capture and Storage
Methodology for Climate-Friendly Foodservice
Methodology for the Displacement of Virgin Petroleum-Based Plastic Production
Methodology for Plugging Oil and Natural Gas Wells to Reduce GHG Emissions
Methodology for Pneumatic Pump Electrification
Methodology for Rewetting High Carbon Soil in Temperate Climate Zones
Module for Performance Method for Reduced Impact Logging in Suriname
Revision to VM0033 Methodology for Tidal Wetland and Seagrass Restoration, v2.0
Revision to VM0036: Methodology for Rewetting Drained Temperate and Boreal Peatlands, v1.0
Revision to VM0043: Methodology for CO2 Utilization in Concrete Production, v1.0
Revision to VT0005: Tool for Measuring Aboveground Live Forest Biomass using Remote Sensing, v1.0
Methodology for Avoiding Greenhouse Gas Emissions By Keeping Food in the Human Supply Chain
Methodology for Improved Efficiency of Fleet Vehicles and Combustion Engines
Methodology for Improved Forest Management through Targeted, Short-Term Harvest Deferral
Methodology for the Use of Alternative Materials that Displace the Production Of Plastics
Module for Estimating Leakage from ARR Activities
New Methodology for Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation (ARR) project activities
Afforestation/Reforestation of Agricultural Lands
Avoided Planned Conversion of Grasslands and Shrublands to Crop Production
Avoiding Planned Deforestation of Undrained Peat Swamp Forests
Calculating Emission Reductions in Rice Management Systems
Destruction of Fluoroform (HFC-23) Waste Gas Streams
Improved Forest Management in Boreal Production Forests
Improved Forest Management on Lands Subject to Unextiguished Indigenous Rights and Title (LtPF)
Methodology for Agricultural Land Management: Improved Grassland Management
Methodology for Aircraft Contrail Management
Methodology for Determining GHG Emission Reductions Through Bicycle Sharing Projects
Methodology for Fuel Switch to Renewable Biomass for Thermal Applications
Methodology for Improved Forest Management in Non-industrial Private Forests
Methodology for Reducing Cattle Methane Emissions Through Direct Reduction of Exhaled Methane
Methodology for Reduction in GHG Emissions from Metal Production Using Metal Bearing Wastes
Methodology for Sustainable Institutional Food Procurement
Methodology for Time-Shifted Electricity Consumption Targeting Less Carbon-Intensive Generation
Revisions to AM0090 to Include Conveyor Belt Transportation
Revision to “Approved consolidated baseline and monitoring methodology ACM0002”
Quantification Methodology for Underbalanced Drilling with Natural Gas and Formation Gas Recovery
In addition, projects seeking registration in the VCS Program that comply with all VCS Program rules may use methodologies from other approved GHG programs, including Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) methodologies and Climate Action Reserve (CAR) protocols.
Exclusions:
- Project activities listed in Table 1 of the VCS Standard are not eligible.
- Projects may not use the following methodologies from other approved GHG programs.
CAR
- U.S. Forest Protocol (excluded 19 Sep 2019)
- Mexico Forest Protocol (excluded 19 Sep 2019)
- Urban Forest Protocol (excluded 19 Sep 2019)
CDM
- AR-AM0014 Afforestation and reforestation of degraded mangrove habitats (excluded 31 Aug 2022)
- Projects that have completed pipeline listing by 31 August 2022 may request registration until 28 February 2023
- AR-AMS0003 Afforestation and reforestation project activities implemented on wetlands (excluded 31 Aug 2022)
- Projects that have completed pipeline listing by 31 August 2022 may request registration until 28 February 2023
- AMS-III.AU. Methane emission reduction by adjusted water management practice in rice cultivation (excluded 03 Feb 2023)
- Projects that have completed pipeline listing prior to 3 February 2023 may request registration until 20 September 2023
- Projects on the Verra Registry that list one of the VVBs referenced in our announcement Verra Inactivates UNFCCC CDM Rice Cultivation Methodology as the “VCS Project Validator” will remain on hold while the quality review process of registered projects is ongoing
Propose a new or revised VCS methodology, tool or module
Stakeholders can submit a methodology idea note to propose a new or revised VCS methodology, tool or module (refer to the Methodology Development and Review Process).
Preference and priority to proceed with the development process of such ideas are given to ideas that are broadly applicable, have high climate change mitigation potential, support sustainable development, and are not associated with unmitigable social, environmental, legal, or regulatory risks.
Depending on available funding, experience and overlapping ideas, either a third-party or group of third-parties leads the development of the proposed new or revised methodology, tool or module. Verra may also fund the development and hire a consultant to prepare the methodology documentation and manage the assessment process.
SD VISta Methodologies
Projects have the option to generate SD VISta assets that represent specific sustainable development benefits. Projects that generate SD VISta assets must use an approved SD VISta asset methodology to quantify the specific social or environmental benefits that will be issued as assets.
SD VISta asset methodologies set out the assumptions, parameters, and procedures for measuring, monitoring, and reporting the specific sustainable development benefits. They also provide detailed procedures for quantifying the real environmental and/or social benefits of the project and provide guidance to help project developers determine project boundaries, set baseline scenarios, monitor the benefits, and ultimately quantify and issue the sustainable development benefits as SD VISta assets.
Project developers can choose to develop their own SD VISta asset methodology through the SD VISta methodology approval process.
A number of SD VISta methodologies are currently under development.
No methodologies are open for public comment at this time.
Plastic Program Methodologies
Methodologies set out detailed procedures for quantifying the plastic waste collected and/or recycled as the result of a project activity and provide guidance to help project developers determine project boundaries, set baselines and assess additionality.
Project proponents must always use the current and valid version of a methodology. Select from the methodologies below based on the nature of your project activity.
To ensure that the Plastic Program remains robust and credible, the Plastic Program periodically reviews approved methodologies to ensure that they conform to current requirements, international best practices, and scientific consensus. Therefore, from time to time, a methodology may be revised, withdrawn or put on hold. In such cases, A grace period will apply for projects currently using the methodology. The status of each methodology is always displayed on the Verra website.