WASHINGTON – Sept. 28, 2026 | Verra’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) methodology and its accompanying modules have been approved by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) as meeting the Core Carbon Principles (CCPs), a clear market signal that credits generated under this methodology are of the highest integrity.

This update adds a major technology-based approach to Verra’s growing portfolio of CCP-approved methodologies.

The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) methodology VM0049 Carbon Capture and Storage, v1.0 establishes criteria and procedures for quantifying greenhouse gas emission reductions and carbon dioxide removals from projects that capture CO2 and store it permanently.

“Carbon capture and storage is one of the hardest, most technically demanding technologies in the market, and it has to be done right. The ICVCM’s approval confirms that VM0049 and its accompanying modules meet the highest bar for integrity in the industry, giving buyers and governments confidence in VCS projects that apply an approach essential to reaching net zero. Tackling climate change will take every tool in the toolbox. More credible credits in more sectors means more impactful climate action.”

Mandy Rambharos, CEO, Verra

A globally applicable framework for technology-based CCS activities, VM0049 relies on modules, which enable flexibility and scalability. The methodology and its modules allow project developers to combine different approaches to capturing, transporting, and storing carbon to suit their project. This flexible approach also means that the methodology can accommodate projects as they expand, make use of shared pipelines and storage sites, and incorporate new technologies that emerge. The flexibility and scalability offered by VM0049 and its modules reflect and accommodate the wide range of ways CCS is carried out in practice.

The CCP-approved modules include those for direct air capture (DAC) (VMD0056), CO2 transport (VMD0057), CO2 storage (VMD0058), and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) (VMD0059).

VM0049 also sets a high bar for integrity in how it treats the energy used to power carbon capture. Where projects rely on renewable electricity, they must demonstrate that it comes from new sources developed specifically to serve the CCS project, rather than from existing renewable sources.

  • VM0042 Methodology for Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.2
  • VM0044 Methodology for Biochar Utilization in Soil and Non-Soil Applications, v1.2
  • VM0045 Improved Forest Management Methodology Using Dynamic Matched Baselines from National Forest Inventories, v1.2
  • VM0047 Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation, v1.0–1.1
  • VM0048 Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, v1.0
  • VCS Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) Framework, v4.1
  • VMD0055 Estimation of Emission Reductions from Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation, v1.1
  • VM0050 Energy Efficiency and Fuel-Switch Measures in Cookstoves, v1.0
  • VM0051 Improved Management in Rice Production Systems, v1.1
  • VMR0016 Flaring or Use of Landfill Gas (ACM0001 Revision), v1.0
  • VMR0017 Grid-Connected Electricity Generation from Renewable Sources (ACM0002 Revision), v1.0
  • ACM0008: Abatement of methane from coal mines, v6.0–8.0
  • ACM0001: Flaring or use of landfill gas, v15.0–19.0
  • AMS-III.G.: Landfill methane recovery, v9.0–10.0
  • AM0023: Leak detection and repair in gas production, processing, transmission, storage and distribution systems and in refinery facilities, v4.0

Contact:

Media Inquiries: Erdem Koch | media@verra.org

About Verra

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.

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