WASHINGTON, D.C. (14 August 2025) – Verra, the world’s biggest carbon market standard, is updating the rules they require projects to meet in a continued effort to strengthen the credibility of verified projects and enhance their ability to have a positive impact for communities and the planet.
To ensure that the revised standard is grounded in the needs of impacted communities, Namati and the Grassroots Justice Network have mobilized input from 150 frontline justice actors from 30 countries.
“Indigenous and local communities are not observers in carbon narratives; we are the guardians of land and culture. We may not all have media platforms, but we hold lived truths.” Frank Setek, founder and executive director of Nkishon CBO.
As part of a public consultation process, Verra has introduced three key reforms to improve how the standards respond to community impacts as part of its Version 5:
Overall, frontline justice actors welcome the changes from Verra that recognize the complexity of land tenure rights, improve access to information for communities, and require companies to understand and respond to social, environmental, and economic risks.
“The direction of travel of Verra’s proposals is hopeful in that the carbon market industry is taking community needs seriously. However, to fully protect community rights, the standard must be clearer in addressing communal tenure, protecting defenders, and ensuring full transparency,” said Sonkita Conteh, Managing Director, Namati Sierra Leone.
Frontline communities have put forward clear, actionable recommendations, below, to ensure Verra’s proposed changes are not just adopted on paper, but meaningfully implemented on the ground.
On August 11, 2025, Namati, the Grassroots Justice Network, and partners submitted final recommendations to Verra’s public consultation. As Verra reviews this crucial feedback and prepares to release updated standards by year’s end, we will continue advancing the Carbon Justice Campaign — a global movement anchored in six core principles essential to ensuring carbon projects are fair, just, and equitable.