Verra wishes to remind proponents of projects using Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program methodology VM0042 Improved Agricultural Land Management that they must use soil data that meets the minimum sampling depth requirement of 30 centimeters for model inputs (qualification approach 1) or measured values (qualification approach 2) for ex post quantification of soil organic carbon (SOC) stock changes.

The 30 cm depth for soil carbon stock quantification is a standard used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to estimate and report changes in SOC stocks in mineral soils, as the top 30 cm is most impacted by land management changes. Relying on data from shallower depths increases the uncertainty of the impact of agricultural land management practices.

This requirement also applies to data measured to less than 30 cm depth from government sources, such as the following:

• India: Soil Health Card (SHC) data that includes SOC measurement at depths of 15 or 20 cm
• European Union: LUCAS (Land Use/Cover Area frame statistical Survey) Topsoil Survey data that includes SOC measurements at depths of 0–10 and 10–20 cm
• Ethiopia: EthioSIS (Ethiopia Soil Information System) data that includes SOC measurements at 0–20 cm

Projects may use data that does not meet the 30 cm depth requirement only for model calibration and validation under quantification approach 1, provided that the following conditions are met:

• The modeling outputs reflect SOC stock changes to a depth of at least 30 cm.
• The extrapolation method used to reach 30 cm is clearly and transparently described.

To be able to proceed with verification, projects must submit project-specific SOC measurements that fully comply with all VM0042 requirements, including depth, sampling protocols, and standards for quality control and quality assurance.

Verra has published corrections and clarifications to two agriculture methodologies and one tool in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program: VM0032 Methodology for the Adoption of Sustainable Grasslands through Adjustment of Fire and Grazing, v1.0; VM0042 Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.1; and VT0014 Estimating Organic Carbon Stocks Using Digital Soil Mapping, v1.0.

Projects using these methodologies and the tool facilitate the scaling up of soil carbon sequestration activities, an important nature-based solution to climate mitigation.

The corrections and clarifications include updates that enable the use of VT0014 with the active versions of VM0032 and VM0042, as well as guidance on the calculation of the mean change in soil organic carbon stocks.

Below, please find a summary of the corrections and clarifications for each document:

• Corrections to VM0032 Methodology for the Adoption of Sustainable Grasslands through Adjustment of Fire and Grazing, v1.0 (PDF)
  • Issued: October 16, 2025
  • Correction to allow the use of remote sensing to estimate and monitor soil organic carbon (SOC) stock changes only in the measured approach, through digital soil mapping by applying VT0014
• Corrections and Clarifications to VM0042 Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.1 (PDF)
  • Issued: October 10, 2025
  • Correction to allow the use of remote sensing to estimate and monitor SOC stock changes through digital soil mapping by applying VT0014
  • Clarification on the requirement to use the templates available on the methodology website to prepare project documentation
• Corrections to VT0014 Estimating Organic Carbon Using Digital Soil Mapping, v1.0 (PDF)
  • Issued: October 16, 2025
  • Corrections to equations and parameters to estimate the mean change in SOC stock
  • Correction to unit variance of the estimate of the mean change in SOC stock between times t and t + Δt (equation 5)
  • Correction to units for the ratio of molecular weight of carbon dioxide to carbon (equation 7)

A digital form to request Core Carbon Principles (CCP) labels is now available on the Verra Project Hub (external). The CCP Label Request Form facilitates requests from project proponents who wish to apply Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) CCP labels to the Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) that their projects generate.

Verra will automatically apply CCP labels to eligible VCUs where projects use an ICVCM-approved methodology and sufficient information is available to confirm eligibility at the time of issuance.

Please note that the form only allows requests to be made by projects using CCP-approved methodologies and frameworks, which are currently as follows:

• ACM0001: Flaring or use of landfill gas, v15.0–19.0 (external)
• AM0023: Leak detection and repair in gas production, processing, transmission, storage and distribution systems and in refinery facilities, v4.0.0 (external)
• AMS-III.G.: Landfill methane recovery, v9.0–v10.0 (external)
• VM0044 Biochar Utilization in Soil and Non-Soil Applications, v1.2
• VM0045 Improved Forest Management Using Dynamic Matched Baselines from National Forest Inventories, v1.2
• VM0047 Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation, v1.0–v1.1
• VM0048 Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, v1.0
• VM0050 Energy Efficiency and Fuel-Switch Measures in Cookstoves, v1.0
• Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ Framework, v4.1

A guidance document outlining Verra’s process for CCP labeling, ICVCM CCP Label Guidance (PDF), provides further details and instructions for requesting labels.

Verra has published a Request for Proposals (RFP) (PDF) for an independent expert review of a major revision to the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) methodology VM0042 Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.1, as well as to the VCS module VMD0053 Model Calibration, Validation, and Uncertainty Guidance for Biogeochemical Modeling for Agricultural Land Management Projects, v2.1.

The ongoing major revisions to VM0042 and VMD0053 will result in versions 3.0 of the methodology and module.

Under the scope of the major revision to VM0042, Verra has worked with diverse technical contributors to prepare the following draft revision documents:

• A red-lined version of the draft VM0042, v3.0
• A draft of the new Soil Sampling and Analysis Handbook
• A red-lined version of the draft VMD0053, v3.0, including an accompanying new Model Calibration and Validation Report Template

Verra expects that the independent expert review will start during the public consultation on the revisions to VM0042 and VMD0053.

Independent expert reviewers may submit a proposal to review all three draft revision documents or conduct a partial review with a focus on soil sampling and analysis, biogeochemical modeling, or woody biomass quantification. Verra welcomes proposals from academics, researchers, practitioners, consultants, validation/verification bodies (VVBs), and other experts with demonstrated experience in agronomy and using VM0042 and VMD0053.

Proposals must be submitted by email with the methodology development ID# M0264 in the subject line by August 15, 2025, to methodologies@verra.org. Verra plans to finalize the selection of the consultant(s) by August 31, 2025, with the work to begin as soon as possible after then.

For more information on the scope of work, deliverables, timelines, and requisite skills and qualifications, please see the RFP document.

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.