Regenerate3

Mandatory Value Chain Reporting

Agentic integrity for supply chain transparency.

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

CBD COP15 decision (December 2022) sets four global goals and 23 targets for 2030. Target 3 (30x30): at least 30% of terrestrial and inland water areas, and 30% of marine and coastal areas, effectively conserved or protected by 2030. Target 15: all businesses and financial institutions assess, monitor, and disclose biodiversity-related risks and impacts. Target 19: $200B/year in biodiversity finance from all sources. Integrated into TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures) reporting frameworks.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation

UNFCCC REDD+ (Warsaw Framework, 2013; Paris Agreement Article 5, 2015) provides a results-based payment mechanism for developing countries that reduce deforestation and forest degradation, or increase forest carbon stocks. Project-level activities require: forest reference levels, MRV systems, and national Safeguards Information Systems (SIS) addressing the Cancún safeguards (REDD+ social and environmental standards). Carbon results must be verified by an accredited third party.

Verified Carbon Standard — Land Use

Verra's Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) is the world's most widely used voluntary carbon crediting program (over 1,900 active projects). Land-use methodologies include: REDD+ (VM0007, VM0015), Afforestation/Reforestation (VM0047), Improved Forest Management (VM0012), Soil Carbon (VM0042), Blue Carbon (VM0033 — tidal wetlands and seagrass), and Agroforestry. Each methodology requires: project boundary GIS files, baseline scenario documentation, monitoring reports with field measurements, and third-party verification by a Verra-approved VVB.

GHG Quantification, Monitoring & Verification

ISO 14064 (2018 revision) is the international standard family for greenhouse gas accounting and verification. Part 1: organizational GHG inventories (boundary, quantification, monitoring, reporting). Part 2: project-level GHG reductions and removal enhancements (baseline scenario, additionality, monitoring plan, uncertainty assessment). Part 3: validation and verification requirements for GHG assertions (verifier competence, evidence requirements, materiality threshold 5% for project-level). Adopted by reference in Verra VCS, Gold Standard, and EU CRCF verification requirements.

Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market — Core Carbon Principles

The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) published its Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) in July 2023 — a global benchmark for high-quality carbon credits. Ten principles across governance, emissions impact, and sustainable development: robust MRV, additionality, permanence, no double-counting, SD co-benefits, and registry transparency. CCP-approved credit categories and programs (assessed from 2024) command a significant market premium. Major corporate buyers (airlines, tech companies) are moving purchasing to CCP-eligible credits only.

Gold Standard for the Global Goals

Gold Standard (GS4GG v4.1) is a certification standard for climate and development projects, requiring compliance with all three pillars of sustainable development alongside climate impact. Requirements: safeguarding against negative impacts (social, environmental), stakeholder consultation and consent, SDG co-benefit quantification (at least three SDGs demonstrated and reported), third-party validation and verification, and listing on the Gold Standard registry. Commonly applied to cookstove, clean water, biogas, soil carbon, and agroforestry projects in the Global South.

Voluntary Carbon Market Disclosures

Substantiation via ISO 14065 third-party verifiers.

Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence

Mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence across global supply chains. Large EU company obligations from July 2027.

EU Deforestation Regulation

6-decimal plot geolocation and 2020-12-31 cut-off. SME deadline: June 30, 2026.

EU Nature Restoration Law

Mandatory restoration targets for terrestrial and marine ecosystems: forests, grasslands, peatlands, rivers, coastal wetlands, seagrass beds, tidal marshes, and mangroves. By 2030: 30% of degraded habitats in each broad ecosystem group must be under restoration. By 2050: 90% of ecosystems in poor condition must be restored. Binding on all EU member states; land managers operating within or supplying the EU market must align stewardship plans with national restoration targets.

EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework

Regulation (EU) 2024/3012 (entered into force December 2024) creates the first EU-wide certification framework for carbon removals. Covers: carbon farming (soil carbon, agroforestry, peatland rewetting, biochar), carbon storage in long-lived products, and carbon capture and storage. Certification requires: a baseline, additionality demonstration, MRV plan with field measurements, permanence safeguards, and third-party certification by an EU-approved body. Carbon farming certificates unlock payments under CAP and voluntary carbon market premiums.

UK Woodland Carbon Code & Peatland Code

The UK Woodland Carbon Code (WCC, published by UK Forestry Commission) and UK Peatland Code (PC, managed by IUCN UK Peatland Programme) are the UK government-backed voluntary carbon standards for land-based carbon projects. WCC covers new native woodland creation and requires: independently validated carbon plan, baseline field survey, and verification every 5 years. Peatland Code covers peatland restoration and requires: degraded peatland condition assessment (ditch grip surveys, water table monitoring), carbon calculation using the WPP Carbon Calculator, and Peatland Action verification. Both issue Pending Issuance Units (PIUs) and Woodland/Peatland Carbon Units (WCUs/PCUs) on the UK Land Carbon Registry.

Australian Carbon Farming Initiative / Emissions Reduction Fund

Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 and the Emissions Reduction Fund enable Australian land managers to earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by sequestering carbon or reducing agricultural emissions. Eligible methods include: soil carbon (sequestration and emissions avoidance), native forest protection, savanna fire management (Arnhem Land Fire Abatement), blue carbon (tidal restoration), and vegetation methods. ACCUs are government-purchased (reverse auctions) or sold on secondary markets. The 2023 Safeguard Mechanism reforms increased demand for land-sector ACCUs.