Develop a Scope 3 Standard (S3S) Project

The Scope 3 Standard (S3S) project cycle sets out the major steps in developing a value chain project that generates high-integrity greenhouse gas (GHG) emission removals and reductions, and Scope 3 Units (S3Us).

Every project undergoes a thorough review process–in addition to audits by validation/verification bodies (VVBs)–to ensure it meets Verra’s rigorous requirements for environmental integrity, transparency, and impact.

As of its launch, the program is enabled through Step 1. The next major revision to version 1 of the program will enable projects to advance through Step 4 detailed below. See the S3S Governance and Development page for more information.

 

1. Project proponent chooses a methodology and develops a project description

The first step in the project development process is selecting a methodology applicable to the proposed project. Next, the project proponent completes a draft project description according to the latest  S3S Listing Project Description Template and submits the project for listing. A thirty-day public comment period will open once the project is listed.

Project developers must open an account and upload all required documents to the Verra Registry to submit project requests for pipeline listing, registration, and verification approval.

2: VVB validates the project and project proponent submits the project for registration

Once the project’s public comment period is over, project proponents complete the registration project description and have the project validated by an approved VVB. This process determines whether a project meets all S3S Program rules. Once the VVB concludes the validation, the project proponent may submit the project for registration.

3: Project proponent monitors project activities, VVB verifies the greenhouse gas (GHG) outcomes, and the project proponent submits the project for verification approval

The project proponent monitors and measures GHG emission reductions or removals for a defined monitoring period. The project proponent completes a monitoring report using the latest S3S Monitoring Report Template (including the digitized methodology using the Verra Project Hub, to be developed) and has the project’s GHG outcomes verified by an approved VVB. Once the VVB concludes the verification, the project proponent may request verification approval.

4: Verra issues Scope 3 Units (S3Us) to registry accounts

Once Verra approves the project’s verification and issuance request, the project proponent is issued S3Us in their account in the Verra Registry.

Additional steps, to be detailed in version 2 of the S3S Program, may include the following:

• A process for reporting companies to demonstrate a value chain association between the impacted good or service and the company’s value chain  
• Verification of this value chain association by VVBs
• Issuance of reportable S3Us to reporting companies with input from project proponents and Verra