The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program, administered by Verra, has been approved for use in the first phase (2024–2026) of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). The decision by the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) extends the programme’s eligibility, which was initially approved during CORSIA’s pilot phase (2021–2023). This extension significantly increases the availability of Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) eligible for CORSIA compliance.
Verra has issued a CORSIA Label Guidance document outlining the process for obtaining CORSIA labels for eligible VCUs. The guidance includes an overview of VCS Program eligibility for CORSIA’s pilot and first phases. It also includes instructions for project proponents to request CORSIA labels for VCUs and details of the new CORSIA labels available in the Verra Registry.
The guidance also introduces requirements to ensure that VCUs issued from 2021 onward are not subject to double claiming, a concern that could undermine the integrity of mitigation outcomes.
To meet assurance requirements, Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) with vintages from 2021 onward must carry an Article 6 Authorized – International Mitigation Purposes label alongside the appropriate CORSIA labels. Verra requires project proponents to provide either evidence of a corresponding adjustment to ensure that mitigation outcomes are not claimed by both the issuing country and the aircraft operator, or a CORSIA Accounting Representation, backed by risk insurance to address potential double claims. Verra has announced that criteria for approved insurance products to fulfil these requirements will be made available soon.
The Verra Registry has also been updated to include four new CORSIA labels, designed to streamline the compliance process. These labels are: CORSIA – Pilot Phase, 2021–2023 Scope, CORSIA – Pilot Phase, 2021–2023 Eligible, CORSIA – First Phase, 2024–2026 Scope, and CORSIA – First Phase, 2024–2026 Eligible. These labels distinguish between VCUs that are within the scope of CORSIA eligibility and those authorised under Article 6, ensuring clarity and transparency for compliance purposes.
These labels distinguish between VCUs within the scope of CORSIA and those authorised under Article 6 for compliance. For VCUs to be retired for CORSIA compliance, a scope label must be replaced by an eligible label.
VCUs already carrying a CORSIA label from the pilot phase will be automatically updated in the registry to reflect the new label designations.
The approval reinforces the role of the VCS Program in supporting international climate initiatives and highlights the growing demand for robust mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability in carbon offset markets. As CORSIA enters its first phase, the updated guidance and labelling system aim to streamline compliance for aviation sector participants.
