Verra, a leading nonprofit in the voluntary carbon market, has unveiled its latest initiative, the ABACUS label. This new certification sets a higher standard for carbon credits derived from ecosystem restoration and reforestation projects.
Close-up of a budding tree seedling. AI generated picture.
The ABACUS label signifies exceptional quality, building on Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the rigorous VM0047 methodology for Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR). Developed with input from an expert working group, including representatives from Amazon, Carbon Direct, and Stanford University, ABACUS aims to ensure the highest integrity in carbon credit projects.
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The Symbiosis Coalition, which includes tech giants like Google, Meta, and Microsoft, has recognised ABACUS as a model for high-integrity carbon removal principles. Jamey Mulligan, Head of Carbon Neutralization at Amazon, praised ABACUS for its role in promoting truly additional and biodiverse restoration efforts.
To qualify for the ABACUS label, projects must first meet the stringent requirements of Verra’s VCS Program and the VM0047 methodology. Additionally, they must excel in several critical areas:
- Dynamic additionality: Projects must match and observe control areas to measure additionality in real time.
- Transparency: Projects must disclose inventory measurements, justify modelling approaches, and report annually on disturbance monitoring.
- Permanence: Projects need to restore diverse ecosystems and continually update their carbon stock stabilisation strategy.
- Avoided displacement of food production: Projects must sustain or enhance agricultural production within the project area.
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The ABACUS label complements existing market-wide initiatives like the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market’s Core Carbon Principles. Verra will continually update the ABACUS label, ensuring it stays aligned with the latest scientific and technological advancements. This progressive approach promises to enhance the impact and credibility of ecosystem restoration efforts globally.
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