Safeguarding Quality: Renoster’s Guide to Verra’s ABACUS Label & ARR Standards
While Verra’s ABACUS label and related standards (CCB and VM0047) represent some of the highest quality requirements for ARR projects, Renoster has identified critical areas where we believe additional safeguards are necessary to ensure project quality and integrity. As a solution, our team has put together a guide which provides a comprehensive evaluation and recommendations spanning three key areas: project infrastructure, scientific assessment, and co-benefits.
Throughout, we emphasize the importance of robust governance, legal protections, and appropriate land-use criteria to mitigate current and future risks. Our scientific analysis highlights gaps in additionality, baselines, leakage, and permanence while advocating for stricter ecological standards and safeguards against socio-political and project boundary risks. Finally, we address co-benefits by evaluating community and ecological impacts, proposing solutions like revenue-sharing mandates, third-party financial management, and stronger protections for project inhabitants.
Our hope is that these recommendations can further strengthen the effectiveness, transparency, and integrity of Verra’s ABACUS label and ARR standards to drive better outcomes for carbon projects and their stakeholders. As always, we welcome any feedback and discussion!
🔭 Access the full guide here - Safeguarding Quality: Renoster’s Guide to Verra’s ABACUS Label & ARR Standards