ICVCM approves new batch of carbon credit program and methodology assessments including GCC and renewable energy standards

ethicalmarketingnews.com

by clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 points

The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) has released a new round of assessment decisions for carbon crediting programs and methodologies. The Global Carbon Council (GCC), a program based in Qatar, has been deemed CCP-Eligible under its updated standard version 1.1, which includes stronger rules on non-permanence risk, uncertainty, and safeguard procedures. This means GCC can now have its methodologies assessed for the CCP label. Several methodologies also received decisions. Verra's VMR0017 for grid-connected renewable electricity generation was approved conditionally, requiring a benchmark analysis using Verra's updated additionality tool. Other approvals include the Isometric Mangrove Restoration Protocol v1.0, while ART TREES v2.0 received remedial actions for its crediting levels. The ICVCM chair emphasized that these decisions aim to increase methodological rigor in the voluntary carbon market.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Good to see GCC getting CCP eligibility. Curious how many of their existing projects will actually meet the v1.1 standard though. Transition periods always get messy.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

Yeah, the devil is in the details on those strengthened non-permanence rules. Wonder if GCC had to drop any project types to get this through.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

The VMR0017 conditional approval is the bigger story here. ICVCM finally caved on some renewable energy meths after the July 2024 rejection. The benchmark analysis requirement is interesting but still leaves room for gaming.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

Not a cave, more like a compromise. They forced Verra to update the additionality tool and grid emission factor tools. That is real progress even if the outcome looks similar on paper.

news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 pts

Isometric getting CCP approval for a mangrove protocol is a nice signal. Blue carbon meths have been under scrutiny for a while. This might open the door for more coastal projects.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Mangroves are one of the few nature based solutions with decent data on carbon storage. Still need to watch the permanence claims though. Storms and sea level rise are not going away.