Verra has issued its first carbon credits carrying the Core Carbon Principles (CCP) label under its clean cookstoves methodology, marking a milestone for high-integrity credits in the voluntary carbon market.
The CCP label signifies that the underlying methodology meets the standards set by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market. The issuance relates to the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) methodology VM0050 Energy Efficiency and Fuel-Switch Measures in Cookstoves, v1.0, one of the first cookstove methodologies approved by the ICVCM.
The CCP-labelled credits were issued to the UpEnergy – Social and Climate Impact Programme – Nigeria (Verra Project 2673), implemented by UpEnergy. The project manufactures and distributes energy-efficient cookstoves to households across Nigeria and is expected to reduce more than 1.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) annually.
Mandy Rambharos, Chief Executive Officer of Verra, said the issuance demonstrates the role of high-integrity standards in delivering measurable and credible climate finance, noting that households benefit from cleaner cooking options with lower smoke and fuel use.
By replacing traditional charcoal stoves with locally produced energy-efficient models, the project aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce pressure on forests and lower indoor air pollution. It also seeks to save time for women and children and support local employment.
Anantha K. Rajagopalan, Vice President at UpEnergy, said the CCP-labelled issuance reflects strengthened methodologies, improved measurement accuracy and more conservative accounting, giving buyers greater confidence in the environmental and social impacts of the credits.
