Rules & Requirements
The VCS Program rules are the backbone of the program. They define the standards and processes which all projects must follow in order to be certified. The VCS rules are set out in a suite of documents which include four types of program documents: Requirements, Procedural, Templates and Guidance.
Documents are updated periodically. Please check this page to be sure you are using the latest version of a given document.
For a running catalogue of all updates, see the Updates to the VCS Standards Version 3.
Information on the May 2018 VCS Version 4 public consultation
Requirements
Requirements documents set out the core principles and requirements for developing projects and generating GHG credits that are real, additional, permanent, independently verified and transparently registered. All VCS projects are assessed against these requirements to determine whether they are eligible to register with the VCS Program.
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Issued: 21 June 2017 The VCS Program Guide is the overarching VCS Program document. It sets out all rules and requirements governing the VCS Program, including the project registration process, the methodology approval process, the accreditation requirements for validation/verification bodies, and the functioning of the VCS registry system. Translations |
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Issued: 21 June 2017 The VCS Standard sets out all specific requirements for developing projects and methodologies, and for the validation, monitoring and verification of projects and GHG emission reductions and removals. Four sub-documents elaborate on specific aspects of VCS Standard, setting out detailed requirements for AFOLU and ODS projects and methodologies, as well as program definitions and fees. Translations |
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Issued: 21 June 2017 The AFOLU Requirements document sets out detailed requirements for developing projects and methodologies in the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector. Translations |
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Issued: 21 June 2017 The JNR Requirements sets out detailed requirements for national and subnational Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) programs and nested projects. Translations |
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Issued: 19 October 2011 The ODS Requirements document sets our detailed requirements for projects and methodologies that destroy ozone-depleting substances (ODS). |
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Issued: 21 June 2017 Program Definitions is a reference that defines all terms used in VCS Program documents. Translations |
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Issued: 1 December 2018 The Program Fee Schedule sets out the fees applicable under the VCS Program. |
Procedural
Procedural documents describe the steps required to perform different functions of the VCS Program, including how to apply for project registration and how to submit new methodologies for VCS approval. These documents guide users of the VCS Program through these different processes.
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Issued: 21 June 2017 The Registration & Issuance Process documents sets out the procedures and rules for registering projects and issuing Verified Carbon Units (VCUs). |
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Issued: 21 June 2017 The Methodology Approval Process document sets out procedures and rules for the approval of VCS methodology elements. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 The AFOLU Non-Permanence Risk Tool sets out the procedure for conducting non-permanence risk analysis and buffer determination for AFOLU projects. |
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Issued: 8 October 2013 The JNR Validation and Verification Process document sets out the procedures and rules for reviewing national and subnational jurisdictional and nested REDD+ (JNR) programs. |
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Issued: 8 October 2013 The JNR Registration and Issuance Process document sets out the procedures and rules for registering national and subnational JNR programs. |
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Issued: 8 October 2013 The JNR Non-Permanence Risk Tool sets out the procedure for conducting non-permanence risk analysis and buffer determination for JNR programs. Translations Français: Outil de Gestion du Risque de Non Permanence pour la JNR, v3.0 |
Templates & Forms
Templates and forms are provided to ensure that users of the VCS Program have a consistent structure to work from when completing certain documents. These templates are required for the completion of project descriptions, monitoring reports, verification reports and other required documentation.
VCS Project
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Project description template. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Monitoring report template. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Joint project description and monitoring report template. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of the project. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of GHG emission reductions or removals. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of GHG emission reductions or removals. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of GHG emission reductions or removals from projects with multiple project proponents. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of the pipeline project. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of the pipeline project with multiple project proponents. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Validation report template. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Verification report template. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Joint validation and verification report template. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of validation. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of verification. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Risk report template (long form) for describing and analyzing the non-permanence risk for AFOLU projects. |
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Issued: 4 October 2012 Risk report template for describing and analyzing the non-permanence risk for AFOLU projects, for use with Risk Report Calculation Tool. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Risk report calculation tool for calculating and documenting the non-permanence risk for AFOLU projects, for use as annex to Non-Permanence Risk Report (long or short form). |
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Issued: 21 June 2017 Loss event report template for estimating an unplanned loss of carbon stock for AFOLU projects. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of the loss event report, for project proponents. |
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Issued: 8 March 2011 Deed of representation issued in respect of project proponents joining a project. |
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Issued: 8 March 2011 Deed of representation issued in respect of project proponents leaving a project. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of conversion of GHG credits into VCUs. |
VCS & CCB Project
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Issued: 21 June 2017 Project description template for projects using Version 3 of both the CCB and VCS Programs. |
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Issued: 21 June 2017 Monitoring report template for projects using Version 3 of both the CCB and VCS Programs |
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Issued: 21 June 2017 Validation report template for projects using Version 3 of both the CCB and VCS Programs. |
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Issued: 21 June 2017 Verification report template for project using Version 3 of both the CCB and VCS Programs. |
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Issued: 21 June 2017 Monitoring report template for projects validated to the second edition of the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards and using and VCS Program. |
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Issued: 21 June 2017 Monitoring report template for projects validated to the second edition of the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards and using and VCS Program. |
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Issued: 21 June 2017 Monitoring report template for projects validated to the first edition of the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards and using and VCS Program. |
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Issued: 21 June 2017 Monitoring report template for projects validated to the first edition of the Climate, |
VCS & SOCIALCARBON Project
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Project description template for projects pursuing certification under VCS and the SOCIALCARBON Standard |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Monitoring report template for projects pursuing certification under VCS and the SOCIALCARBON Standard |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Validation Report template for projects pursuing certification under VCS and the SOCIALCARBON Standard |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Verification report template for projects pursuing certification under VCS and the SOCIALCARBON Standard |
JNR Program
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Issued: 19 October 2016 JNR program description template for the development of jurisdictional REDD+ programs applying Scenario 2 or 3. |
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Issued: 19 December 2013 JNR baseline description template for the development of jurisdictional baselines |
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Issued: 30 October 2014 Deed of representation issued in respect of the jurisdictional baseline validation. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of the jurisdictional REDD+ program listing with VCS. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of the jurisdictional baseline with multiple jurisdictional proponents listing with VCS. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of the jurisdictional baseline with multiple jurisdictional proponents listing with VCS. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect the jurisdictional REDD+ program validation. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of the jurisdictional REDD+ program verification. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 JNR monitoring report template |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of the jurisdictional REDD+ program. |
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JNR Program Registration Representation (multiple JPs), v3.1 |
Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of the jurisdictional REDD+ program with multiple jurisdictional proponents. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect to the jurisdictional baseline. |
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JNR Baseline Registration Representation (multiple JPs), v3.1 |
Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of the jurisdictional baseline with |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of GHG emission reductions or removals achieved by the jurisdictional REDD+ program. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 JNR validation report template. |
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Issued: 19 October 2016 Deed of representation issued in respect of GHG emission reductions or removals achieved by a jurisdictional REDD+ program with multiple jurisdictional proponents. |
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Issued: 19 December 2013 Risk report template for describing and analyzing the non-permanence risk for jurisdictional REDD+ programs. |
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Issued: 19 December 2013 Form for submitting an application to become a JNR expert. |
Methodology
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Issued: 25 March 2015 Methodology concept note template. |
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Issued: 25 March 2015 Minor methodology revision description template. |
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Issued: 8 October 2013 Methodology template. |
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Issued: 8 October 2013 Module template (for tools and modules). |
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Issued: 4 October 2012 Form for submitting a methodology element to Verra. |
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Issued: 7 August 2018 Form for requesting final approval of a methodology element from Verra. |
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Issued: 8 October 2013 Report template for validation/verification bodies conducting a first or second methodology assessment. |
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Issued: 4 October 2012 Form for submitting an application to become a methodology assessment expert. |
VVB
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Issued: 22 January 2019 VVB agreement template. |
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Issued: 22 January 2019 Validation/verification body application form. |
Guidance
Guidance documents are periodically published to illustrate different aspects of the VCS rules using examples and other guidance.
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This document provides guidance for jurisdictions seeking to use the JNR Requirements. It provides high level advice on program design and development. |
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Traducción: Orientación para el Diseño de Programas Jurisdiccionales y Anidados de REDD+ (Español) |
Este documento provee orientación para jurisdicciones buscando usar los Requerimientos JNR. Provee consejo de alto nivel sobre el diseño y desarrollo de programas. |
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Technical Guidance for Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ Programs |
This document provides advice on specific paragraphs of the JNR Requirements. |
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Traducción: Orientación Técnica para Programas Jurisdiccionales y Anidados de REDD+ (Español) |
Este documento provee consejo sobre párrafos específicos de los Requerimientos JNR. |
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Provides guidance on the procedure for cancelling Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) issued by the UNFCCC’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and converting them to VCUs. |
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Supports validation/verification bodies (VVBs) and other VCS stakeholders to |
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Assists methodology developers apply standardized methods requirements set out in the VCS Standard and Methodology Approval Process. |
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Guides project developers pursuing project certification under VCS and the Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards |
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Guides project developers pursuing project certification under VCS and the SOCIALCARBON Standard |
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Provides examples for determining the proper number of credits to be placed on hold or cancelled due to a loss event in a Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) project. |
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Clarifies how Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation (ARR) projects must follow VCS AFOLU Requirements and a CDM Afforestation/Reforestation (A/R) methodology. |
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Provides scenarios for calculating the average carbon stock over various harvesting cycles for Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation (ARR) and Improved Forest Management (IFM) projects. |
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Provides guidance on various forms of double counting and how these should be addressed |
Finally, note that the VCS Program rules have progressed through a number of iterations over time. Previous versions of the VCS Program rules which are no longer in use are archived on the VCS website.
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