Governance
The SD VISta Program is managed by Verra with the support of the Sustainable Development Advisory Group, a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral group that helps ensure that SD VISta can promote and advance sustainable development through results-based market mechanisms.
Verra is committed to following ISEAL’s Codes of Good Practice in the ongoing development of the SD VISta Program.
Development
The SD VISta Program was developed from June 2017 through December 2018 following a multi-stakeholder process and in alignment with the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards (learn more in the SD VISta Terms of Reference (PDF), which were last updated in November 2017).
The SD VISta Standard Development Advisory Committee provided key input on strategic issues during the development process. Two public consultations were conducted to obtain vital inputs on SD VISta’s form and content.
The Sustainable Development Advisory Group, formed in July 2021, is a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral group that helps ensure that SD VISta can promote and advance sustainable development through results-based market mechanisms. View the Terms of Reference for this working group (PDF).
Verra is grateful to the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA), a partnership of CARE, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, the Rainforest Alliance and the Wildlife Conservation Society, for its leadership in the design and implementation of multiple-benefit project standards. The CCBA originated the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards, the framework on which SD VISta is based.
Visit the SD VISta Previous Versions page to view the archived previous versions of the SD VISta Program documents.
Previous Updates
| 2024 | |
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| Q4 | December 4, 2024: Verra has released a Clarifications to Verra Program Rules and Requirements (PDF) document that applies to procedural documents of all its programs, with the aim of streamlining the project review process. The updates clarify that Verra reviews project documents prior to validation/verification body review only in cases where it is deemed necessary or because a project is high-risk, in line with Verra’s recently announced risk-based approach to project reviews. November 27, 2024: Verra has released a new Exemption Request Procedure, v1.0 (PDF) and an Exemption Request Form, v1.0 (DOC), which are available on the SD VISta Rules and Requirements webpage. The new procedure relates to project proponents and validation/verification bodies that wish to request an exemption and applies to all Verra programs. A digital version of the Exemption Request Form, v1.0 is being developed and will be available soon on the Verra Project Hub. October 16, 2024: Verra released a new fee schedule, Verra Program Fee Schedule, v1.0 (PDF), which includes changes to existing SD VISta fees. See the announcement and information about effective dates here. The new fee schedule document is available on the SD VISta Rules and Requirements. |
| Q1 | Corrections Corrections to the SD VISta Program Guide, v1.0 regarding project denial requests, VVB sanctions and related procedures and requirements. See the corrections to the SD VISta Program Rules and Requirements, published 16 February 2024 (PDF). Updates The SD VISta Program Fee Schedule, v1.3 (PDF), was released on 16 February 2024.See the program notice and information about effective dates here: Verra Publishes SD VISta, CCBS, and Plastic Programs Corrections and Clarifications. |
| 2023 | |
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| Q1 | Updates The SD VISta Program Fee Schedule, v1.2 (PDF), was released on 30 March 2023. See the announcement and information about effective dates here: Announcement: Updated Verra Program Fee Schedules. |