Verra has resumed the review of registration and/or verification approval requests for some Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) projects whose contracted validation/verification bodies (VVBs) were subsequently suspended by Verra earlier this year.

In March, Verra announced suspension measures against four VVBs following their involvement in auditing the 37 rice cultivation projects in China that Verra rejected in 2024. The affected VVBs are China Classification Society Certification Company (CCSC), China Quality Certification Center (CQC), CTI Certification CO., LTD., and TÜV Nord Cert GmbH. The suspension measures were limited to specific scopes in select programs. (See the original press release for more details.) At that time, Verra also stated that it would not approve any existing registration and/or verification approval requests that include audits by the affected VVBs for the specific audit types from which they have been suspended.

Verra has now decided that affected projects can have their requests reviewed if they meet the following criteria:

• The proponent submitted the registration and/or verification approval request, including all required documents, prior to the VVB suspension.
• The proponent has paid all required fees in full.
• The leader of the audit team for the project was not involved in auditing any of the rejected rice projects.
• The VVB that audited the project documents for the registration and/or approval request and provided the validation and/or verification opinion met the following requirements:
  • The VVB was accredited by a recognized accreditation body for ISO 14065, or was UNFCCC-accredited to audit the relevant project types under the applicable sectoral scope (e.g., scopes 14 and 15 of the Clean Development Mechanism [CDM]); and
  • The VVB was approved by Verra to audit projects under sectoral scope 14: AFOLU in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program.

After careful consideration of submissions received via its grievance redress policy (PDF), Verra decided that projects can have their requests reviewed if they meet the above criteria. Verra will contact projects that meet the criteria and are eligible to have their registration and/or verification approval requests reviewed.

The registration and/or verification approval requests will undergo Verra’s robust review process and be subject to rigorous quality control procedures before a final decision on these requests is reached. Verra’s reopening of a project review request does not guarantee approval of this request.

Verra has released a minor clarification to the Verra Program Fee Schedule, v.1.0 (PDF). The Clarification to Verra Program Rules and Requirements (PDF) notes that all fees associated with the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program also apply to the VCS Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) Framework, unless otherwise stated.

The VCS JNR Framework is the world’s first accounting and verification framework for jurisdictional REDD+ programs and nested projects and helps entities with forest-related emission reduction activities to integrate their efforts into governmental climate goals. The framework is an integrated part of the VCS Program. The key elements of the VCS Program, such as regular auditing and VCS Program fees, apply equally to JNR programs and nested projects.

For any questions about JNR Framework fees, please contact registry@verra.org. Jurisdictional program proponents should contact Verra directly if payment plans or alternative arrangements are needed.

Verra has opened a public consultation on a minor revision (methodology development ID #M0299) to Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) methodology AMS-III.C.: Emission reductions by electric and hybrid vehicles, v16.0 (external). The revised methodology would be published in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. The consultation will run from April 24 through May 26, 2025.

AMS-III.C. applies to project activities that introduce new electric and/or hybrid vehicles to displace the use of fossil fuel vehicles in passenger and freight transportation. By incentivizing the use of low-emission transport options, this methodology contributes to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality, and decreased reliance on fossil fuel-powered vehicles.

The proposed revision expands the methodology’s scope to include electric mobile machinery (EMM), such as building and construction machines. EMM includes both battery-electric mobile machinery and plug-in hybrid electric mobile machinery.

Please see the public consultation document (PDF) for the full background and details about the proposed updates.

Verra is accepting feedback through its new digital public consultation platform, which is hosted on the Verra Project Hub. Stakeholders will need to use the link provided to enter their personal details, confirm their email address, and access the online consultation form. For additional guidance, please review the user guide (PDF).

Comments may be submitted electronically via the online form by 11:59 pm Anywhere on Earth (UTC-12) on May 26, 2025. If you experience issues using the digital public consultation platform or have feedback on it, please contact hubsupport@verra.org.

Verra recently released a guidance document for Wetland Restoration and Conservation (WRC) projects using the AFOLU Non-Permanence Risk Assessment Calculator, v4.2 to assess the non-permanence risks due to sea-level rise within their project area.

Version 1.0 of Guidance on Sea-Level Rise Risk Assessment Using the Non-Permanence Risk Assessment Calculator, v4.2 (PDF) provides step-by-step instructions for the sea-level rise risk assessment using the Non-Permanence Risk Assessment Calculator in the Verra Project Hub. It should only be applied to projects that are partially or entirely in the intertidal zone at the time of assessment.

While project proponents and validation/verification bodies (VVBs) are not required to use this guidance, it supports their ability to assess local project conditions and highlights specific evidence that may be used to support the assessment. This information is a critical component of the risk assessment.

The guidance document was developed by Silvestrum Climate Associates (external).

Verra has launched digital versions of multiple deeds of representation for use in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program, as well as a digital version of the VCS Requantification Notification Form, v1.0. These are now available on the Verra Project Hub as part of Verra’s ongoing digitalization initiative, which is a multiyear effort to enhance transparency and efficiency, streamline processes, and scale up Verra’s impact.

Verra encourages the use of digital versions of documents where possible. Digital submissions facilitate transparency and enable an efficient review process.

A deed of representation is a legal document signed by a stakeholder in the VCS Program, such as a project proponent or a validation/verification body (VVB), to make certain warranties in respect to the project and the greenhouse gas emission reductions and carbon dioxide removals that a project generates. Users may now complete these deeds of representation and request signatures digitally through the Verra Project Hub.

Please see below for a full list of newly digitalized project representations.

Submitting the VCS Requantification Notification Form, v1.0 is the first step required in the VCS Methodology Change and Requantification Procedure, v4.0 (PDF). The procedure enables projects to update the methodology or methodology version they are using for past verification periods and requantify the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and carbon dioxide removals (reductions and removals) from past verification periods in accordance with that updated methodology. Project proponents must submit this form upon the start of activities with their contracted VVB.

When a requantification notification form is submitted, a notification goes out to all account holders who hold active Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) from the verification periods for which the project intends to requantify reductions and removals. The Verra Project Hub also hosts a public list of all projects that have submitted a requantification notification, including information on which monitoring and verification periods the requantification covers. This provides increased transparency for VCU holders.

For any issues accessing the digital representations or requantification notification form, please contact hubsupport@verra.org.

For guidance on using the digital representations or requantification notification form, please consult the respective user guide. (The user guides are also available in the Verra Project Hub).

Verra expects to release digital versions of additional program documents throughout the year, including a digital Exemption Request Form, which is coming soon.

Verra has released updated versions (v4.1) of the Geologic Carbon Storage (GCS) Requirements (PDF) and the GCS Non-Permanence Risk Tool (NPRT) (PDF). The updates, which constitute minor revisions, streamline and clarify the requirements for Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) projects that implement GCS or carbon capture and storage (CCS) activities.

The new versions include the following changes, among others:

• Revised requirements for demonstration of project ownership in different jurisdictions (GCS Requirements)
• Streamlined requirements for monitoring and closure of injection sites to improve verifiability during project implementation (GCS Requirements)
• Revision of some risk scoring requirements related to the regulatory framework risk and design risk (GCS NPRT)

Verra consulted on the updates to these documents as part of the initial public consultation on version 5 of the VCS Program, which ran from September through November 2024. Verra received sufficient input to move forward with this component of updates to the VCS Program now, with further updates to follow upon the release of VCS Version 5.

Effective immediately, all projects using VCS Methodology VM0049 Carbon Capture and Storage, v1.0 and its associated modules and tools must meet the requirements in the updated GCS Requirements and GCS NPRT.

In October 2024, Verra released its first set of modules for use with VM0049. These enable CCS projects to implement technologies for direct air capture, CO₂ transport, and CO₂ storage in aquifers and reservoirs. Additional modules and tools are under development.

The updates in this release will soon be incorporated into the digitalized version of the GCS NPRT, which was recently added to the Verra Project Hub.

Verra today announced suspension measures against the four validation/verification bodies (VVBs) involved in auditing the 37 rice cultivation projects in China that Verra rejected late last year. The affected VVBs are as follows: 

• China Classification Society Certification Company (CCSC) 
• China Quality Certification Center (CQC) 
• CTI Certification CO., LTD.
• TÜV Nord Cert GmbH (suspension measures only apply to validation and verifications for projects that are located in China) 

Specifically, the VVBs will be suspended from conducting all validation or verification audits of the following: 

• Projects that use a methodology under sectoral scope 14 Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program 
• Projects that are registered or are seeking to register under sectoral scope 1 Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) and sectoral scope 13 Oceans and Marine Resources in the Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta) Program 
• Projects that are registered or are seeking to register in the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards (CCBS) Program 

The 37 rice cultivation projects were rejected after Verra identified serious issues, including insufficient demonstration of additionality, projects being inappropriately designated as small scale, project areas being overstated, and a lack of sufficient evidence to confirm the baseline scenario and project implementation.

The four VVBs involved in validating and verifying these projects were issued non-conformance reports regarding their failure to identify these issues. To close the non-conformance reports, the VVBs were required to identify the root causes of their failure to identify these issues and propose actions to prevent their recurrence. After careful review, Verra found the VVBs had not taken sufficient actions to prevent the issues from recurring.

Per the VCS Program Guide, the above VVB suspensions have the following implications for proponents that have contracted or are currently seeking to contract the affected VVBs:

• Verra will not accept any new project registration or verification approval requests that include validation or verification audits by the affected VVBs for the audit types from which they have been suspended. Affected projects that are listed on the Verra Registry as under validation have been notified directly of this decision.
• Verra will not approve existing registration and issuance requests that include audits by the affected VVBs for the audit types from which they have been suspended. Affected projects have been notified directly of this decision.
• Affected projects will need to hire another Verra-approved VVB to conduct a new validation or verification. The list of approved VVBs is available on the Validation and Verification page on the Verra website.
• Verra will grant affected projects extensions to their validation deadlines to allow time for the completion of new validations.

Verra will lift a VVB’s suspension if the following conditions are met:

• The VVB has successfully addressed the actions outlined in the nonconformity reports that Verra issued to the VVB.
• The VVB has met the reinstatement requirements listed in the VCS Program Guide.
• VVBs with pending ISO 17029/14065 applicant status have obtained accreditation in accordance with the requirements for becoming an approved VVB in the VCS Program (per the VCS Program Guide).  

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Verra is a global leader helping to tackle the world’s most intractable environmental and social challenges. As a mission-driven nonprofit organization, Verra is committed to helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve livelihoods, and protect natural resources by working with the private and public sectors. We support climate action and sustainable development with standards programs and tools that credibly, transparently, and robustly assess environmental and social impacts and enable funding for sustaining and scaling up projects that verifiably deliver these benefits.

Verra has opened a public consultation on a minor revision (methodology development ID #M0280) to Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) methodology AMS-III.BM.: Lightweight two- and three-wheeled personal transportation (external). The revised methodology would be published in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. The consultation will run from March 19 through April 18, 2025.

AMS-III.B.M. applies to project activities that help shift urban passenger transport to mechanical and electric bicycles and tricycles by developing supporting infrastructure, such as bicycle lanes, bicycle sharing programs, and bicycle parking areas. By facilitating the use of low-emission transport options, this methodology contributes to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality, and decreased reliance on fossil fuel-powered vehicles.

The proposed revision expands the methodology’s scope to include other two- or three-wheeled electric vehicles (e.g., electric motorcycles and scooters). The revision also allows for the inclusion of business-oriented delivery and transportation services.

Please see the public consultation document (PDF) for the full background and details about the proposed updates.

Verra is accepting feedback through its new digital public consultation platform, which is hosted on the Verra Project Hub. Stakeholders will need to use the link provided to enter their personal details, confirm their email address, and access the online consultation form. For additional guidance, please review the user guide (PDF).

Comments may be submitted electronically via the online form by 11:59 pm Anywhere on Earth (UTC-12) on April 18, 2025. If you experience issues using the digital public consultation platform or have feedback on it, please contact hubsupport@verra.org.

Verra has released a clarification (PDF) to the effective date of versions 4.1 and 4.2 of the Non-Permanence Risk Tool (NPRT) for Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) projects. The clarification allows a project to use version 4.0 of the AFOLU NPRT for verification approval if it meets the following criteria:

1. The project requested registration before August 29, 2023
2.  The project is requesting verification approval only for vintages of 2022 and earlier

Project proponents in Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program use the AFOLU NPRT to assess risks and determine buffer pool contributions for their projects. Version 4.1 of the AFOLU NPRT was released on August 30, 2023, and was updated to version 4.2 on October 12, 2023.

This clarification enables a more seamless transition for projects that requested registration and prepared for verification approval for vintages of 2022 and earlier when version 4.0 of the AFOLU NPRT was still current.

Only version 4.2 of the AFOLU NPRT meets the assessment criteria of the Core Carbon Principles (CCP) Assessment Framework published by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM). Projects meeting the above criteria may still choose to use version 4.2 of the AFOLU NPRT if they seek to obtain CCP labels for the Verified Carbon Units they generate.

Eligible projects electing to apply AFOLU NPRT, v4.0 must follow the guidance provided in the clarification document.

Verra has released clarifications to two Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) methodologies for composting: ACM0022: Alternative waste treatment processes, v3.0 (external) and AMS-III.F.: Avoidance of methane emissions through composting, v12.0 (external). The two CDM methodologies apply to activities that reduce methane emissions from organic waste, with ACM0022 covering alternative waste treatment processes (e.g., composting under aerobic conditions, gasification, anaerobic digestion with biogas recovery) and AMS-III.F. covering controlled biological treatment through composting or anaerobic digestion in closed reactors.

The clarifications confirm that the methodologies, which refer broadly to composting projects, are also applicable to insect composting projects in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. The clarifications are effective as of February 14, 2025.

The primary clarification to each CDM methodology stipulates that composting under these methodologies covers any type of controlled aerobic biological treatment, including microorganisms, insects, earthworms, and others. Therefore, composting activities involving insects are also included in each methodology.

Insect composting is an alternative waste management practice with aerobic conditions; it reduces methane emissions when replacing anaerobic waste treatment practices that do not include methane destruction. This method transforms organic waste into compost and, depending on the process, may have additional benefits, such as offering substitutes (for example, in animal feed) for animal or crop-based protein sources that are associated with higher greenhouse gas emissions and use of land and other resources.

The clarifications to ACM0022 (PDF) and clarifications to AMS-III.F. (PDF) documents contain additional guidance, including on the following topics:

• Determination of the methane and nitrous oxide project emission factors
• Procedures for demonstrating additionality
• Use of the latest version of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) documents