Emissions Certification Standards

Verra launched its Scope 3 Standard Program, an independent certification framework that quantifies and verifies climate action projects across corporate value chains and addresses emissions that typically account for over 75% of a company's total carbon footprint. Each unit issued through the program, called a Scope 3 Unit, represents one tonne of CO2 equivalent reduced or removed. The program works alongside Verra's existing Verified Carbon Standard to broaden financing options for eligible projects.

More than 100 expert stakeholders, including Patagonia, 3M, and Diageo, shaped the framework through a multi-year pilot testing process that began in 2022.

As more than 40% of the world's largest public companies now set net-zero targets, including Scope 3 emissions, Verra's certification framework signals a shift toward independently verified value-chain action rather than self-reported claims alone.