Who We Are

The Verified Carbon Standard is a greenhouse gas accounting program used by projects around the world to verify and issue carbon credits in voluntary markets.

VCS was founded in 2005 by business and environmental leaders who identified a need for greater quality assurance in voluntary markets. Our founding partners - the Climate Group, the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and the World Economic Forum - convened a team of global carbon market experts to draft the first VCS requirements. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) joined the effort soon after.

The VCS Association was incorporated as a non-profit in Washington, DC in 2009, with a professional staff to manage ongoing operations and development of the VCS Standard and Program. Today VCS is managed by staff with input and guidance from the board.

VCS relies on expert committees to ensure existing and new requirements reflect state-of-the art knowlede and global good practice. We convene new committess of global experts on a regular basis to guide the development of new requirements. With input from our experts, we are steadily expanding the scope of the program to respond to the need for new, innovative and trusted carbon accounting tools. 

Our History

• 2005 – The Climate Group, IETA and the World Economic Forum found VCS and convene a Steering Committee to draft requirements
• 2006 – WBCSD joins the effort; VCS Steering Committee drafts and releases the first Voluntary Carbon Standard requirements, VCS Version 1
• 2007 – Steering committee develops and releases updated VCS Version 2007 requirements
• 2008 – Steering Committee develops and releases version 2007.1, which includes requirements for crediting Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) projects 
• 2009 – VCS Association incorporated as a non-profit in Washington, DC with a professional staff to oversee VCS operations and development; two dozen proposed methodologies submitted to VCS Methodology Approval Process
• 2010 – First VCS methodologies are approved, including the first REDD methodologies; streamlined and updated VCS Version 3 documents are posted for public comment; Steering Committee on Standardized Approaches is convened
• 2011 – VCS Version 3 is released for use; VCS changes name to Verified Carbon Standard; VCS opens South America office with Fundación Chile; Advisory Committee on Jurisdictional and Nested REDD is convened