Verra and the Verified Carbon Standard 

Written By Tory Christensen

Verra Overview

Verra is a non-profit organization renowned for establishing worldwide standards for taking action against climate change and encouraging sustainable growth. Their standards cover a broad spectrum of subjects, from decreasing deforestation to managing plastic waste to refining agricultural techniques. Verra works to aid in achieving ambitious goals for climate and sustainable development and to simplify the movement toward a sustainable future.


Verified Carbon Standard

Verra's flagship program comes in the form of The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). VCS is the most highly used greenhouse gas (GHG) crediting program in the world (brush up on carbon credit basics here (Internal link to carbon credits article). This program puts carbon offset projects through a thorough process of development and evaluation before they are allowed to register with the VCS program. Being the leading GHG crediting program comes with a comprehensive set of principles and requirements to ensure projects are up to the VCS program pedigree

Requirements

As far as most requirements for the program, the VCS Standard document details the standard requirements from developing projects to the validation and verification of GHG emission reductions and removals. Inside the standards document, reside the guiding principles which help make VCS such a revered program. These core principles include:

  • Relevance 

  • Completeness

  • Consistency

  • Accuracy

  • Transparency

  • Conservativeness

On top of the VCS Standard, are VCS Methodology Requirements. These add another layer to the VCS program, ensuring the project is run thoroughly and examines all angles. On top of this, depending on the carbon offset project, there are more detailed requirements that must be satisfied as well. Although strict, meeting the requirements set forth by the VCS Standards is well worth it. Once the projects are determined to satisfy the requirements they are registered with the VCS program.

Mitigation Partners, Inc. Founders Dax Dickson & Tory Christensen

Tory Christensen
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