VCS PROGRAM DETAILS

Projects

VCS projects implement a wide variety of activities that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions, improve livelihoods, and protect nature. Projects are categorized by their sectoral scope, ranging from waste handling and disposal projects (such as biochar projects) to land use projects (such as improved forest management projects).

Programs

The VCS rules and requirements also form the foundation for the Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) framework. REDD+ is reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, as well as the sustainable management of forests and the conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. The JNR framework is the world’s first integrated accounting and verification framework for jurisdictional REDD+ programs and nested projects. VCS jurisdictional and nested REDD+ programs are government-led strategies that harmonize emission reductions across national REDD+ programs as well as subnational and/or project activities.

Each Verified Carbon Unit (VCU) represents a reduction or removal of one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) achieved by a project. All VCUs adhere to a number of quality assurance principles to ensure that the VCUs represent GHG emission reductions or removals that are real, measurable, additional, permanent, independently verified, conservatively estimated, uniquely numbered, and transparently listed. The project validation and verification processes, as well as Verra’s review and approval, confirm that each unit reflects these characteristics.

VCUs may be labeled to indicate that they meet the requirements of another certification system or standards program that has been approved by the VCS Program (a certification label), or that the VCU has been authorized for use in a national, international, or sector -specific market (a market label). These additional certifications typically represent community and biodiversity benefits achieved by projects, in addition to the climate benefits inherent in a VCU. For more information on VCU labels, see VCU Labels page.

The VCS Program rules define the standards and processes that all projects must follow in order to be certified and are set out in a suite of documents: Requirements, Procedural, Templates, and Guidance.

Note that correction documents may be issued periodically to correct errors in text, equations, or figures in VCS Program documents or methodologies. In addition, clarification documents may be issued to provide additional guidance or clarity on VCS Program rules, or to issue minor, urgent updates to requirements in between new versions of VCS Program documents. Corrections and clarifications will be incorporated into the next issued version of the relevant program document or methodology, at which time the corrections and clarifications will be moved to an archive page on the Verra website.

These documents are updated periodically. Please check this page to ensure you are using the latest version of a given document.

Effective dates for all versions can be found in the Document History appendix of the program documents and on the VCS Governance and Development page.

Visit the Previous Versions page to view earlier versions of the VCS Program documents

Projects, activities, or methodologies can be developed under any of the 16 VCS sectoral scopes.

VCS methodologies set out detailed procedures for quantifying the real greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits of a project and provide guidance to help project developers determine project boundaries, set baselines, assess additionality, and ultimately quantify the GHG emissions that were reduced or removed.

An independent validation and verification process is critical to ensure the integrity of the projects registered in the VCS Program. Qualified, independent third-party auditors known as validation/verification bodies (VVBs) are tasked with assessing projects against the VCS Program rules and the requirements of the applied methodology.

Certain compliance markets are accepting high-quality carbon credits issued by voluntary GHG crediting programs, including the VCS, to fulfill their respective emission reduction and/or removal requirements. Currently, the VCS Program is accepted into the compliance markets in Colombia and South Africa. The VCS Program is eligible to supply emission reduction units for compliance under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

The Verra Registry is the cornerstone for the implementation of Verra’s standards and programs. It facilitates the transparent listing of information on registered projects and projects pursuing registration, issued and retired units, and enables the trading of units. It is the central repository for all information and documentation relating to Verra projects and credits. The Verra Registry also ensures the uniqueness of projects and credits in the system.

The Verra Project Hub is an online platform that serves as a comprehensive tool for listing, registering, and managing projects in Verra’s standards programs.

It enables the submission and review of documentation for project validation, verification, and monitoring. Project proponents can use it to track progress, milestones, and deliverables. This enhances transparency and accessibility of project information and facilitates communication and collaboration among proponents, validation/verification bodies, and other stakeholders.

Note: Please note that the link below requires login details.

The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program is managed by Verra with the support of the VCS Program Advisory Group. 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.

For more information on the VCS Version 4 development process and program updates, see the Governance and Development page.

Verra provides a Grievance Redress Policy that applies to all standards and programs managed by Verra.

This frequently asked questions (FAQ) document addresses review procedures in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program; the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards (CCBS) Program; the Plastic Waste Reduction Program (Plastic Program); and the Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta) Program.

Disclaimer: This FAQ document is current as of November 28, 2023. This FAQ document is provided for informational purposes only. The scope and nature of every review depends on the underlying facts and circumstances.