SETTING THE STANDARD
VERRA’S REVOLUTIONARY NEW
REDD METHODOLOGY
Keeping forests standing is vital to achieving global climate goals. Deforestation accounts
for roughly 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and its economic drivers threaten the
ability to protect the world’s trees. Carbon markets can drive urgent nance to these critical
ecosystems and protect them today, before they are lost.
Leading the charge in market-based solutions to deforestation, Verra has brought together
experts from around the globe to craft standards programs and methodologies designed to aid
in forest protection.
The REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) framework, since
its inception, has served as a revolutionary method of channeling much needed nance to the
protection of standing forests. It has also empowered local communities to maintain these
forests and their biodiversity, and can contribute to governments’ climate commitments under
the Paris Agreement.
Today, Verra is announcing the latest breakthroughs in its forest protection portfolio:
the newest REDD methodology (
VM0048
) and module (
VMD0055, Avoided Unplanned
Deforestation
).
This groundbreaking release embraces years of scientic improvements and methodology
design. It denes a new approach to how emission reductions from forest conservation
activities are calculated, unlocking the potential for even more impact.
HERE ARE THE TOP FEATURES OF THE NEW RELEASE:
· Verra will now lead and manage the baseline setting process, using jurisdictional-level
data that meets stringent requirements and a robust development process.
· Verra is embracing more advanced technologies, employing advanced remote-
sensing technologies coupled with a thorough risk assessment. The new process will
determine the expected deforestation for a project area, allowing the number of
veried emission reductions from all projects in a jurisdiction to be consistent with
jurisdictional-scale accounting.
· Verra will increase collaboration with national governments, enabling
project baselines to be derived from jurisdictional REDD baselines and
enhancing eorts to achieve national climate action targets outlined in the
Paris Agreement.
· Verra has reduced the baseline reassessment period from ten years
to six in all Verra methodologies that address avoiding unplanned
deforestation.
VIP
