Governance

The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program is managed by Verra with the support of Verra’s Board members, staff, advisory groups and committees, and stakeholder input collected through engagement.

Verra is relaunching the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program Advisory Group to help align the VCS Program with the global ambition to halve global GHG emissions by 2030 and reach net zero global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by mid-century. The VCS Program Advisory Group will be a strategic resource to support the near- and long-term progress of the VCS Program in meeting the integrity needs of the evolving carbon market and achieving greater impact.

Applications for VCS Program Advisory Group Membership will be accepted from 27 February until 27 March 2023.

Read the VCS Strategic Advisory Group Terms of Reference (PDF)

VCS Program Advisory Group Application Form (external site)

Development

Verra is committed to making certain that the VCS Program reflects the latest scientific research and is continually improved with respect to the consistency and accuracy of GHG emissions accounting. We follow ISEAL’s Codes of Good Practice in the ongoing development of the VCS Program.

Visit the Governance and Development: Previous Versions page to view previous versions of the VCS Program.

The current version, VCS Version 4, was developed through a consultative process comprising two 60-day public consultations and engagement with many individual stakeholders, including project developers, methodology developers, validation/verification bodies, trade associations, NGOs, and other market participants.

Issues Currently Under Development

Between major version updates, Verra considers updates to the VCS Program documents intended to strengthen or expand the scope of the program and to ensure that projects deliver real, permanent, and additional emission reductions and removals. Issues currently under consideration are listed below.


Previous Version 4 Updates