ReqoData
Carbon Markets 2026Updated

List of Carbon Credit Verification Bodies and Registries Worldwide

Comprehensive directory of carbon credit registries, crediting programs, and accredited verification bodies (VVBs) operating globally across voluntary and compliance markets.

Available Data Fields

Registry / Program Name
Type
Headquarter Location
Scope (Geographic)
Standards Supported
CCP-Eligible (ICVCM)
CORSIA-Approved
Credits Issued (Cumulative)
Year Founded
Methodology Count
Registry Platform Provider
Website

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* Full data requires registration
NameTypeHQCredits Issued
Verra (VCS)Voluntary RegistryWashington, D.C., USA1.2B+ tCO2e
Gold StandardVoluntary RegistryGeneva, Switzerland348M+ tCO2e
American Carbon Registry (ACR)Voluntary RegistryArlington, VA, USA289M+ tCO2e
Climate Action Reserve (CAR)Voluntary RegistryLos Angeles, CA, USA169M+ tCO2e
Global Carbon Council (GCC)Voluntary RegistryDoha, Qatar50M+ tCO2e

85+ records available for download.

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Understanding Carbon Credit Registries and Verification Bodies

Carbon credit registries and verification bodies form the infrastructure of trust in carbon markets. Registries issue, track, and retire serialized carbon credits, while Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs) independently audit projects against approved methodologies. Together, they prevent double-counting and ensure environmental integrity across both voluntary and compliance markets.

The Major Voluntary Market Registries

Five programs generate the vast majority of voluntary carbon credits globally:

ProgramFoundedProjectsFocus
Verra (VCS)20072,300+Broad: REDD+, renewables, cookstoves, agriculture
Gold Standard20033,500+SDG co-benefits required; renewables, community projects
ACR1996788+First private voluntary registry; forestry, industrial gases
CAR2001N/ANorth America focus; forestry, livestock, ODS
ART (TREES)2018N/AJurisdictional REDD+ at national/subnational scale

Regional and Emerging Registries

Beyond the five major programs, dozens of regional and national registries serve specific markets:

Global Carbon Council (GCC)
MENA region's first voluntary program, headquartered in Qatar. CORSIA-approved and ICROA-endorsed. Used for the 2022 FIFA World Cup carbon neutrality effort.
Cercarbono
Colombian voluntary standard operating across Latin America, Turkey, and parts of Southeast Asia. Uses EcoRegistry as its registry platform.
International Carbon Registry (ICR)
ICROA-endorsed program following ISO 14064-2 and Paris Agreement Article 6 principles.
J-Credit Scheme (Japan)
Government-backed domestic credit scheme certifying GHG reductions and removals within Japan.
Puro.earth
Finland-based registry specializing in carbon removal credits (biochar, BECCS, enhanced weathering). CCP-Eligible under ICVCM.

Integrity Frameworks Shaping the Market

Two frameworks increasingly determine which registries and credits buyers trust:

  • ICVCM Core Carbon Principles (CCP) — As of late 2025, seven major programs covering ~98% of market volume are CCP-Eligible, with 36+ approved methodologies.
  • ICAO CORSIA — Nine crediting programs are approved to supply offset credits for international aviation, including Verra, Gold Standard, ACR, CAR, ART, and GCC.

Accredited Verification Bodies

VVBs are third-party auditors accredited by one or more registries to validate project designs and verify emission reductions. Major VVBs operating across multiple standards include:

  • DNV (Norway) — Active across Verra, Gold Standard, and compliance markets
  • SGS (Switzerland) — Global presence with validation services across all major standards
  • TÜV SÜD / TÜV NORD (Germany) — Prominent in CDM and voluntary market verification
  • SCS Global Services (USA) — Verra and CAR accredited
  • RINA (Italy) — Approved for Verra and Gold Standard programs

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.Does this dataset include both voluntary and compliance market registries?

Yes. The dataset covers major voluntary crediting programs (Verra, Gold Standard, ACR, CAR, ART, etc.), regional voluntary registries (Cercarbono, GCC, ICR, J-Credit), and references to compliance market registries. Our AI crawler gathers data from publicly available sources across both market types.

Q.How do I know which registries meet the latest integrity standards?

The dataset includes fields for ICVCM Core Carbon Principles eligibility and ICAO CORSIA approval status, allowing you to filter for programs that meet these internationally recognized integrity benchmarks.

Q.Can I get a list of VVBs accredited for a specific registry?

Yes. You can filter by standards supported to see which validation and verification bodies are accredited by a particular registry such as Verra or Gold Standard. Data is sourced from each registry's publicly listed VVB directories.

Q.Are credits issued figures kept current?

When you request the full dataset, our AI crawls public registry databases and official reports to retrieve the latest available cumulative issuance figures. These are sourced from public data and may not reflect real-time transactions.