Verra has released updated versions of templates for the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. With this release, VCS Version 5 is fully operationalized, and all project proponents can begin using it. Launched in December 2025, VCS Version 5 includes new and updated requirements to ensure that the program continues to enable carbon markets to operate at the scale, pace, and with the integrity needed to support global climate ambitions.

In addition to project description, monitoring report, and validation/verification report templates, this release includes other new templates and documents to support the implementation of VCS Version 5, including the program’s market-leading social and environmental safeguards:

  • New standalone templates for reporting on the stakeholder engagement plan and for documenting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risk assessment and monitoring
  • VCS Guidance: Right to Operate, Sustainable Development, Stakeholder Engagement, and Safeguards, v5.0 (PDF), which provides targeted information, resources, and examples to support the use of the VCS Version 5 requirements and templates, and serves as a practical reference that allows users to navigate directly to the sections most relevant to their needs
  • Geolocation File Requirements, v5.0 (PDF), which includes requirements, procedures, and best practices for preparing geolocation files to submit with project requests
  • A document listing minor corrections and clarifications to indicate the section numbers of the VCS Version 5 templates that need to be completed and documents that need to be submitted for certain requests (i.e., pipeline listing requests, crediting period renewal requests, and baseline reassessment requests)

This updated suite of templates, guidance, and resources reflects Verra’s commitment to improving the usability and accessibility of the VCS Program, with improved layout and clarity of instructions for project proponents and validation/verification bodies (VVBs) to report on all new requirements.

The dropdown lists below include all of the new and updated templates, documents, and representations that are part of this release. For the links to these resources, see the VCS Program Details page on the Verra website.

Using the Templates: Effective Dates

Verra has released two versions of each template: 5.0A and 5.0B. Project proponents and VVBs must use the version that aligns with the effective dates of VCS Version 5 updates that apply to their projects.

    • Version 5.0A templates must be used by projects with a project start date that occurs prior to January 1, 2027. These templates enable projects to continue reporting on certain requirements set out in the VCS Standard, v4.7, because the updated requirements in the VCS Standard, v5.0 do not yet apply to these projects. These requirements include the updates numbered in the VCS Version 5: Overview of VCS Program Updates and Effective Dates (PDF) document as follows:
      • V5#14 (right to operate and right to reductions and removals)
      • V5#16 (stakeholder engagement requirements)
      • V5#17 (safeguard requirements)
      • V5#23 (ecosystem conversion safeguards)
      • V5#58 (financial transparency for benefit sharing)
    • Projects with a project start date that occurs prior to January 1, 2027, must eventually transition to the version 5.0B templates at a future project milestone.
    • Version 5.0B templates must be used by projects with a project start date that occurs on or after January 1, 2027. These templates enable projects to report on all requirements set out in the VCS Standard, v5.0. See the VCS Version 5: Overview of VCS Program Updates and Effective Dates (PDF) document for more details.

The updated templates must be used for all project requests submitted to Verra after January 1, 2027. This includes projects with audits that are already underway; if project proponents anticipate that their initial registration request, verification approval request, or crediting period renewal request will be submitted after January 1, 2027, both project proponents and VVBs must transition to the use of the new templates.

Forthcoming Trainings and Digitalization

Verra will host training sessions on all VCS Version 5 updates, including how to use the new templates, later in 2026. We will announce these training sessions on the Verra website and on LinkedIn.

The digitalization of these VCS Version 5 project templates is underway. Verra will announce when digital templates are launched, including information about a transition period, which will state an effective date for when the use of the digital templates becomes mandatory.

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