Verra is issuing updates to its Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) Framework within the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. With these updates, Verra seeks to align the JNR Framework with the Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) of the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM). Earlier this year, the ICVCM recognized the VCS Program as fully aligned with the detailed criteria of the CCPs for high-quality carbon credits.
The JNR Framework is the world’s first accounting and verification framework for jurisdictional REDD+ programs and nested projects, and it is unique in its concrete guidance and tools for nesting, bringing together national (or subnational) jurisdictional accounting with nested project activities.
These changes are effective immediately. JNR programs that, on the release date, are listed (or have requested pipeline listing) as “under development” or “under validation” in the Verra Registry, may continue to use the previous version of the respective documents until their jurisdictional forest reference emission level (FREL) reassessment. The FREL is the reference level against which program results are compared to determine the volume of GHG emission reductions that the program achieves.
Specifically, the updates to the JNR Framework pertain to the following documents: JNR Non-Permanence Risk Tool, JNR Requirements: Scenario 1, JNR Requirements: Scenario 2, JNR Requirements: Scenario, and JNR Registration and Issuance Process.
For more information on the updates, please see below.
Verra has released JNR Non-Permanence Risk Tool, v4.1 (PDF), which includes the following updates:
- Risk is to be assessed over a 100-year horizon.
- Program longevity shall be at least 40 years.
- Program longevity has been added to the set of risk factors assessed.
Verra has released JNR Requirements: Scenario 1, v4.1 (PDF), which includes the following updates:
References to risk mapping and allocation procedures have been updated to refer to VCS Tool VT0007 Unplanned Deforestation Allocation (UDef-A), v1.0.
Activity data shall be estimated by means of a sample-based, area estimation method to align with current best practices and ensure consistency with VCS Module VMD0055 Estimation of Emission Reductions from Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation, v1.0.
Verra has released JNR Requirements: Scenario 2, v4.1 (PDF), which includes the following updates:
- References to risk mapping and allocation procedures have been updated to refer to VCS Tool VT0007 Unplanned Deforestation Allocation (UDef-A), v1.0.
- Activity data shall be estimated by means of a sample-based, area estimation method to align with current best practices and ensure consistency with VCS Module VMD0055 Estimation of Emission Reductions from Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation, v1.0.
- A requirement has been added to provide evidence demonstrating that expected revenue from carbon credits is decisive for enabling implementation of a jurisdictional program.
- A limit to the time between the program start date and completion of validation and registration has been added.
- The minimum program longevity has been set at 40 years.
- The provision to exclude areas presumably not impacted by program activities has been removed.
Verra has released JNR Requirements: Scenario 3, v4.1 (PDF), which includes the following updates:
- References to risk mapping and allocation procedures have been updated to refer to VCS Tool VT0007 Unplanned Deforestation Allocation (UDef-A), v1.0.
- Activity data shall be estimated by means of a sample-based, area estimation method to align with current best practices and ensure consistency with VCS Module VMD0055 Estimation of Emission Reductions from Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation, v1.0.
- A requirement has been added to provide evidence demonstrating that expected revenue from carbon credits is decisive for enabling implementation of a jurisdictional program.
- A limit to the time between the program start date and completion of validation and registration has been added.
- The minimum program longevity has been set at 40 years.
- The provision to exclude areas presumably not impacted by program activities has been removed.
Verra has released JNR Registration and Issuance Process, v4.2 (PDF), which includes the following updates:
- Section 5.3 now requires that all the carbon credits in the pooled buffer contributed by a jurisdictional program that withdraws from the VCS Program be immediately canceled.
- Pipeline listing statuses have been updated.
- The buffer release section has been removed.