Verra Launches Research Initiative in Partnership with the Climate Crisis Advisory Group 

WASHINGTON and DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Verra and the Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG) are proud to announce a new research partnership to support the continuous improvement and ongoing development of the voluntary carbon market (VCM) as a key climate action tool. In its initial research piece, CCAG will employ its global experts to review existing research, conduct new analysis and seek external input to determine how best-practice science can support lasting trust in the VCM.

This partnership is part of a broader research effort spearheaded by Verra to inform the direction of the VCM and assess the project portfolio of Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program, including its climate, biodiversity and social impacts. It aims to bring together respected and independent experts across regions and sectors, like those at CCAG, to collaborate on a suite of research projects, adding data, analysis and perspectives to ongoing discussions in this critical climate action space.

CCAG was established in 2021 by former Special Representative for Climate Change and Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK Government Sir David King as a direct response to the pressing climate emergency and the widening gap between scientific knowledge and tangible action. It is an independent group of global experts reflecting a wide range of academic disciplines and indigenous knowledge.

CCAG’s global group includes climate experts from ten countries spread across the global north and south. This global representation is central to the group’s mission of climate justice and a cornerstone of its research. As part of its foundation, CCAG places the utmost value on the integrity of its reports.

While Verra will provide catalytic contributions to this effort, these will be limited and transparent to maintain the independence of the research and the integrity of its results, which are expected to be published in Q2 of 2024.

Verra’s broader research effort is an important companion piece to other market-leading actions the nonprofit standards setter is taking to bolster confidence and trust in the VCM. With a commitment to continuous improvement and learning, Verra is also developing a more advanced and detailed registry, digitalizing the full project cycle with new levels of data transparency, improving validation/verification body training and oversight, updating methodologies to incorporate the latest science and technology, enhancing safeguards and improving its project review processes.

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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, tools and programs that credibly, transparently and robustly assess environmental and social impacts and enable funding for sustaining and scaling up projects that verifiably deliver these benefits.

The Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG) is an independent group of experts which reflects a wide range of academic disciplines and indigenous knowledge, comprising 16 experts from 10 nations. It includes leading authorities in climate science, carbon emissions, energy, environment and natural resources. Some of the members also participate in governmental advisory groups. Its function is complementary, not an alternative, to these other roles. CCAG looks at in-depth policy and financial issues, including ones not currently on governmental agendas. All scientists have agreed to give up their time at no cost.