The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) has announced a significant expansion of its high-integrity carbon credit framework, granting “CCP-Eligible” status to the Qatar-based Global Carbon Council (GCC) and approving several rigorous new methodologies.
The decisions, part of a continuous effort to standardise the voluntary carbon market (VCM), aim to restore investor confidence by ensuring that credits under the Core Carbon Principles (CCP) label meet strict criteria for additionality, permanence, and social safeguards.
The Global Carbon Council (GCC), established by the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD), has become the latest programme to achieve CCP-Eligibility. To meet the ICVCM’s stringent requirements, the GCC strengthened its frameworks for v1.1 of its standard, introducing robust rules on:
- Confidentiality: Enhanced disclosure and protection of sensitive information.
- Non-permanence: Improved risk assessment tools and notification procedures.
- Safeguards: Clarified procedures for assessing the social and environmental impacts of projects.
“This landmark recognition affirms the GCC Program’s standing as a high-integrity carbon crediting program on the international stage,” said Dr Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of the GCC. The move allows GCC’s specific methodologies to move forward in the ICVCM’s “two-tick” assessment process for final CCP labelling.
The ICVCM also approved a “new generation” of methodologies designed to address previous criticisms regarding the additionality of renewable energy projects.
- Renewable energy (VCS VMR0017): This revised methodology for grid-connected renewables, including solar and wind, has been “CCP-Approved” with conditions. Credits must now pass a decisive financial benchmark analysis to prove they would not have been viable without carbon revenue. No historical issuances will receive the label.
- Mangrove restoration (Isometric v1.0): This new protocol, published in late 2025, received full approval. The ICVCM praised its “dynamic baseline” and rigorous additionality tests, with up to 2 million removal credits expected by 2030.
- Methane abatement (VCS ACM0008): Versions 6-8 were approved specifically for capturing methane from active and abandoned coal mines, provided they apply updated additionality tools.
In a move demonstrating the Council’s rigorous stance, two key crediting levels under the ART TREES v2.0 programme—High Forest Cover, Low Deforestation (HFLD) and Removals—failed to meet current CCP criteria.
The ICVCM has mandated “remedial actions” for ART to implement before these credits can earn the CCP label. Notably, 58.4 million existing HFLD credits are currently ineligible for the label. ART must now provide stronger evidence that historical baselines do not underestimate future emission threats in these protected regions.
Annette Nazareth, Chair of the Integrity Council, emphasised that these thorough assessments are essential for the market’s evolution. “The difficult decisions we have taken to date are charting a path towards increased methodological rigour,” Nazareth stated.
The results signal a maturing market where the “CCP label” acts as a definitive benchmark, separating legacy projects from a new class of high-integrity credits designed to drive meaningful, verifiable climate action.
