Verra is implementing two changes that will help optimize the methodology development process and minimize the duplication of submissions.
New Requirement for Expected Minimum Emissions Impact
Effective September 15, 2023, Verra will only review methodology idea notes (MINs) for new or expanded methodologies with expected emission reductions or removals of 500 ktCO2e/year within five years. This threshold will be reevaluated in one year. A high climate change mitigation potential is one of the criteria for determining which methodologies Verra will prioritize for development, per Section 3.1.6 of the Methodology Development Review Process, v4.3. This ensures that Verra maximizes the climate mitigation impact of its work.
Submission of MINs for Remote Sensing and AI-Based Carbon Stock Estimation Requests
Verra is no longer accepting MINs for methodologies, modules, or tools related to remote sensing and AI-based carbon stock estimation in AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use) projects under the methodology development and review process. Instead, these submissions and inquiries will be reviewed as part of the ongoing development of digital measurement, reporting, and verification (DMRV) for the VCS Program, which is in the pilot stage right now. This will enable Verra to efficiently screen and filter new submissions with its DMRV selection criteria, rather than reviewing a large number of overlapping MINs.
Projects not participating in the DMRV pilot program can use VT0005 Tool for Measuring Aboveground Live Forest Biomass Using Remote Sensing, v1.0.
Please direct submissions on remote sensing and AI-based carbon stock estimation in AFOLU to forestcarbon@verra.org.
Reminder
Submitting a MIN does not ensure that the proposed methodology will proceed to the development stage.
A Note on Recent Initiatives
These updates build on Verra’s efforts to improve the VCS methodology development and review process. For more, please see these recent announcements: