ICVCM Defends REDD+ Decision After Expert Panel Dissent

The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market responded to public dissent from former Expert Panel members over its decision to approve three REDD+ methodologies, stating that disagreement among experts is a sign of a healthy and inclusive assessment process. The ICVCM said all expert opinions, including dissenting views, were considered by the Governing Board before its final determination.

Following the ICVCM Governing Board's approval of three methodologies — ART TREES v2.0, VCS VM0048, and VCS Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ Framework v4.1 — two former Expert Panel members and subject matter experts published their disagreement with the decision. The ICVCM noted that the assessment process deliberately incorporates multiple perspectives without forcing consensus, and that the specific concerns raised in the dissenting blog are documented and addressed in detail in the Board Observations paper published alongside the assessment decision.

The ICVCM's assessment process drew on input from 26 Expert Panel and Subject Matter Expert members, whose perspectives collectively informed the Governing Board's determination that the three approved methodologies fulfil the requirements of the Assessment Framework. The council stated that the approved REDD+ methodologies address concerns identified in older approaches and will usher in a new generation of higher-integrity projects. The ICVCM committed to monitoring implementation and attending to integrity risks in methodology application as part of ongoing oversight.

The ICVCM recognised the contributions of outgoing Expert Panel members as their three-year term concluded, expressing respect for their independence and depth of engagement during assessment processes. The council stated that inclusive deliberation, which includes the right of experts to disagree with final decisions, is fundamental to building a high-integrity voluntary carbon market capable of delivering credible carbon finance at scale. The departing members' foundational work on the Core Carbon Principles and Assessment Framework was cited as a lasting contribution.

Key figure — 26 Expert Panel and Subject Matter Expert members involved in REDD+ assessment