Isometric Becomes Sixth CCP-Eligible Program; First ARR Methodology Approved

The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market has approved Isometric as its sixth CCP-Eligible carbon crediting program and simultaneously approved VCS VM0047, the first afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation methodology under the CCP framework. Academic research indicates ARR initiatives could sequester up to 10 GtCO2 annually by 2050.

Isometric, a carbon crediting standard focused on carbon dioxide removal, achieved CCP-Eligible status after demonstrating compliance with Core Carbon Principles criteria for governance, transparency, tracking, and independent third-party validation and verification. Isometric provided evidence of board independence and strengthened transparency, social safeguard, and grievance procedures as part of the assessment process. The program joins ACR, ART TREES, CAR, Gold Standard, and Verra as the sixth CCP-Eligible program under the ICVCM framework. As part of the same assessment batch, the ICVCM also approved VCS VM0047 for afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation projects — a methodology with no credits issued to date, but one that paves the way for CCP-labelled ARR credits to enter the market.

The approval of VM0047 is particularly significant for carbon removal finance. ARR methodologies support the restoration of degraded lands through tree cover and woody vegetation, and are among the most cost-effective climate mitigation strategies according to academic literature. The methodology's CCP approval positions nature-based carbon removal as a credible source of high-integrity credits for buyers seeking verified, additional removals. The ICVCM Board Chair highlighted the approval as advancing private finance mobilisation for climate action, particularly in the Global South where ARR projects have significant development co-benefits.

The Integrity Council noted that market response to 2024 assessment decisions had been positive, with demand for CCP-labelled credits at a premium and new methodologies and projects being developed in line with the CCP framework. ART TREES' HFLD and Removals modules, along with clean cookstove methodologies, remained under assessment at the time of this announcement and were expected in early 2025. The ICVCM said it would continue publishing decisions after each Governing Board meeting and regularly update its website to maintain transparency on the status of all assessments.

Key figure — ARR initiatives estimated to sequester up to 10 GtCO2 annually by 2050