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ICVCM (Integrity Council for Voluntary Carbon Markets)

An independent governance body for high-integrity voluntary carbon markets.

What is ICVCM (Integrity Council for Voluntary Carbon Markets)?

The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) is an independent governance body established to ensure that the voluntary carbon market (VCM) effectively contributes to achieving net-zero emissions and the goals of the Paris Agreement. It develops and enforces the 'Core Carbon Principles' (CCPs) to set a global benchmark for high-integrity carbon credits.

Why is ICVCM (Integrity Council for Voluntary Carbon Markets) important?

The ICVCM is critically important for restoring and building trust in the voluntary carbon market. By defining and promoting high-integrity standards through the Core Carbon Principles, it aims to eliminate low-quality credits, prevent greenwashing, and unlock the VCM's potential to channel finance at scale towards genuine climate action.

Related terms

Want to explore this topic further? Browse connected glossary terms below.

Core Carbon Principles (CCPs)

A global benchmark for high-integrity carbon credits, developed by the ICVCM.

Core definitions
Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM)

A market where carbon credits are traded voluntarily by companies or individuals.

Core definitions
Carbon Credit Ratings

Assessments of carbon credit quality based on various criteria.

Core definitions

Frequently asked questions

What are the Core Carbon Principles (CCPs)?

The CCPs are a set of fundamental principles for high-quality carbon credits focusing on environmental integrity (e.g., additionality, permanence, robust MRV) and sustainable development benefits.

How does the ICVCM work with existing standards?

The ICVCM assesses existing carbon crediting programs (like Verra, Gold Standard) against the CCPs, providing a label that signifies whether credits issued under those programs meet the high-integrity benchmark.

Will all carbon credits eventually need to be CCP-labeled?

The ICVCM aims for CCP-labeled credits to become the global benchmark for high-integrity carbon credits, encouraging market participants to prioritize their use.