Developing a Project Description

Project proponents develop a project description using the VCS Project Description (VCS PD) template.

The VCS PD describes all the details of the project and project activity, including location, start date, project crediting period and ownership of the emission reductions. The project proponent will also demonstrate additionality, identify the most plausible baseline scenario, estimate the emission reductions in the baseline and project scenarios, and set out the data and parameters that will be monitored over the course of the project.

The project proponent must have the project description validated by an approved validation/verification body.

To see the complete the rules and requirements for developing a project, please see the VCS Standard.

Developing a Monitoring Report

Once a project starts, the project proponent begins monitoring and measuring emission reductions and other data to produce monitoring reports using the VCS Monitoring Report template.

There may be multiple monitoring periods over the course of the project crediting period, and they can vary in length with the project proponent’s needs. In the monitoring report, the project proponent must report on the implementation status of the project activity, record all data and parameters monitored and calculate the emission reductions or removals generated for that period.

Once the monitoring report is completed, the project proponent can select a validation/verification body to verify the emission reductions generated and reported. Project proponents may choose to complete project validation and emission reductions verification in one step. In other words, project proponents can develop a project description and monitoring report concurrently and have the documents validated and the emission reductions verified at the same time.

To see the complete rules and requirements associated with monitoring, please see the VCS Standard.