When Should New Carbon Market Rules Take Effect?

In our submission to Verra’s Version 5 consultation, Eco Sustainability responded to a technical but important question: how to set effective dates for program updates.

Verra’s proposal introduces a tiered system, ranging from immediate application to 12–18 month transition periods. It is a structured approach that balances integrity with practical realities for project developers and verifiers. We see this as a strong foundation, and we offered a set of refinements to make it clearer and more workable in practice.

One area is “effective immediately.” Everyone agrees this should apply in urgent cases — such as when updates address fraud or fix a serious methodological error. But it helps to be specific. Providing concrete examples of past cases that would fall under this category would give stakeholders a clearer precedent to work from. A severity scale could also guide future decisions more consistently.

We also highlighted the issue of timing for projects already in advanced stages. For example, if a forestry project has nearly completed validation and a new rule is published, restarting the process would be disruptive. Grandfathering provisions could allow such projects to proceed under the previous rules, while still requiring new projects to adopt the latest standards.

Complexity is another factor. Not every update has the same impact. A simple change to a reporting template is different from revising an entire methodology. For the latter, more time — sometimes up to 24 months — may be necessary for tools, training, and verification practices to adjust.

There is also the human element. Some updates affect not just technical processes but also community consultations, financial agreements, or local partnerships. Even if technically straightforward, these cases may require longer timelines to respect stakeholder engagement.

Finally, communication is critical. We suggested tools that could make program changes easier to navigate:

• An annual roadmap of expected updates, so stakeholders can prepare early.

• Draft updates published with tracked changes, to make differences clear.

• A central “Program Updates Hub” with live dashboards and timelines.

The way effective dates are set may sound like an administrative detail, but it shapes how smoothly and fairly new rules are adopted. Verra’s tiered approach is a good starting point. With clearer definitions, practical flexibility, and better communication tools, the process can support both program integrity and stakeholder readiness.

About Eco Sustainability

As a trusted advisor on sustainability and climate policy, Eco Sustainability is not only aligned with global standards, we help shape them by contributing to technical consultations and international standard-setting processes.