Verra has launched the pilot phase of its Scope 3 Standard (S3S) Program, marking a significant step in the development of this new initiative aimed at certifying value chain interventions and issuing units for companies’ emissions accounting.
During this initial phase, the pilot projects will adapt three methodologies from Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program for use in the S3S Program – ‘VM0042 Methodology for Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.0’, ‘VM0043 Methodology for CO2 Utilization in Concrete Production, v1.0’ and ‘ ACM0009: Fuel Switching from Coal or Petroleum Fuel to Natural Gas, Version 5.0’.
If the piloting process is successful and the methodologies are approved, these will be the first methodologies included in the S3S Program when it officially launches in 2025.
The four pilot projects, which will test these adapted methodologies as well as the S3S Program’s rules, requirements, processes, and documents, span across the apparel, agriculture (arable and livestock), construction, and communications services sectors.
Located in Europe, Asia, and North America, the projects are being implemented by 3Degrees Inc. (in collaboration with CarbiCrete and others), Bayer Crop Science (with ATOA Carbon and Perennial Climate Inc.), Klim GmbH (with partners), and Patagonia Inc. (with technical advisor Anew Climate LLC).
These pilot projects will run for the next 12 months, with insights from their operations used to further refine the design of the S3S Program.