Verra Launches Scope 3 Standard Program to Catalyze Finance for Decarbonizing Value Chains

Verra has launched its Scope 3 Standard (S3S) Program, which provides the infrastructure for registering Scope 3 projects and certifying their climate impact. The program also enables projects to generate Scope 3 Units (S3Us) designed to be used by companies in their emissions accounting and reporting.

Scope 3 emissions abatement is currently not being achieved at the scale needed to meet decarbonization targets. There has been a lack of guidance and no clear framework for transparently monitoring value chain projects and certifying their emissions impacts that companies can then use for credible reporting toward their emissions targets.

Verra’s S3S Program is well-positioned to fill this gap and help scale up within-value-chain climate action. It provides an innovative suite of harmonized requirements and guidance for quantifying and certifying emission reductions from value chain projects, and for the assessment of companies’ value chain associations with these projects.

S3Us represent the climate impact of projects’ emission reduction and removal activities. Companies that can demonstrate a credible value chain connection to the goods or services affected by the project can then request reportable S3Us that are designed for use toward their Scope 3 net zero claims.

The program is designed to be compatible with the evolving rules of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) around the use of projects and market instruments to support target implementation under its Corporate Net-Zero Standard.

The S3S Program is underpinned by robust and transparent environmental and social safeguards that provide clear requirements and guidance related to stakeholder engagement, land and resource rights, grievance mechanisms, and benefit-sharing, among others.

• Version 1 of the S3S Program, which goes live today, enables project proponents to list Scope 3 projects on the Verra Registry using an initial set of methodologies (S3S-VM0042 Improved Agricultural Land Management and S3S-VM0043 CO₂ Utilization in Concrete Production).
• Future updates to version 1 will enable proponents to go through registration, validation, and verification, and will allow Verra to issue S3Us.
• Version 2 of the S3S Program will include a framework companies can use to demonstrate that they have a verified value chain association with a good or service that is directly affected by an S3S project. An established value chain association, which includes steps to mitigate free-rider risks, will enable a reporting company to be issued reportable S3Us (based on a verified allocation method) for use in their Scope 3 emissions reporting.

The S3S Program employs a digital-first approach; all project-related processes will be managed through the Verra Project Hub and the Verra Registry. This approach will support the efficient processing and approval of project documentation and project review requests. Combined with streamlined program requirements and, where applicable, new options for focused scope verifications* and limited assurance, the S3S Program can enable faster and more frequent verifications and unit issuances at a lower cost to proponents. This approach facilitates the alignment of issuances with corporate emissions reporting timelines.

*Note: The scope of these verifications is limited to the pertinent data related to greenhouse gases and impacted products.

The following two methodologies are available at launch:

• S3S-VM0042 Improved Agricultural Land Management, v1.0
• S3S-VM0043 CO₂ Utilization in Concrete Production, v1.0

They are adapted from methodologies in Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program, the world’s leading greenhouse gas crediting program.

The following methodologies are currently under adaptation and planned for release following the program launch:

• S3S-VM0041 Methodology for the Reduction of Enteric Methane Emissions from Ruminants through the Use of Feed Ingredients
• S3S-VM0045 Improved Forest Management Using Dynamic Matched Baselines from National Forest Inventories
• S3S-VM0047 Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation

Future methodologies will be developed from the ground up in the S3S Program and/or adapted from other programs such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) or the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM). Eventually, the S3S Program will include methodologies covering all key industries.

On Wednesday, September 30, at 11:00 am ET, Verra will host a webinar to provide an overview of the new S3S Program and answer questions.

As we continue to evolve the S3S Program, we invite stakeholder feedback on the program fee options and other program documents.

Please note: This feedback gathering process differs from a formal public consultation where Verra reviews and considers every submission. Submitting feedback does not guarantee future changes to the program, but your input may be used as we revise program documents and develop and update supporting materials (FAQs, webinars, and other resources).

Please submit your feedback by November 30, 2026.

The Scope 3 team wishes to extend its sincerest gratitude to all who have supported the development of the Scope 3 Standard Program so far. This work would not be possible without the contributions of our many collaborators, pilots, sponsors, and thought partners, and your commitment to scaling up corporate climate action.

If you are interested in supporting or collaborating on the S3S Program, please email scope3@verra.org.