Verified Carbon Standard


The Verified Carbon Standard, Verra or VCS, formerly the Voluntary Carbon Standard, is a standard for certifying carbon emissions reductions. VCS is administered by Verra, a 501 not-for-profit organization.
In 2005, The Climate Group, 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 joined the effort soon after. These experts soon formed the VCS Steering Committee, which worked to draft the first and subsequent versions of the VCS Standard. Many of the members of the original steering committee went on to be on the original , which now has evolved into a body of 12 members that offers input and guidance to the organization.
By 2008, with the VCS Standard becoming more widely adopted, the Board of Directors named the organization’s first Chief Executive Officer. Soon after in 2009, VCS incorporated in Washington D.C. as a non-profit NGO.
On February 15, 2018, the organization that maintains the Verified Carbon Standard changed its name from Verified Carbon Standard to Verra.