A wave of methodology approvals and revisions has moved through the carbon market, tightening the rules for forestry, agroforestry, rice, and biochar projects across both voluntary and national programmes.
The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (IC-VCM) extended its Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) quality label to four additional methodologies. Verra secured two approvals under its Verified Carbon Standard (VCS): VM0051, covering methane reduction in flooded rice systems, and VMR0016, addressing the flaring or use of landfill gas. VM0051 supersedes a Clean Development Mechanism method inactivated in 2023 and is the second rice methane methodology to carry a CCP label.
Two land-based pathways completed the IC-VCM approvals. ACR's Improved Forest Management (IFM) on Non-Federal US Forestlands consolidates silvicultural activities that increase forest carbon stocks, and Isometric's Agroforestry Protocol addresses systems combining production with ecosystem services and local livelihoods.
National programmes moved in step. Vietnam issued TCVN 14682:2026, the National Standard on Forest Carbon Credits, on 11 August 2026, channelling credits into the Vietnamese emissions trading system (V-ETS). The standard spans REDD+, afforestation, reforestation, and improved forest management, and permits both emission reductions and carbon removals.
“This standard serves as ‘the benchmark’ for developing and implementing carbon projects within the forestry and land-use sectors, facilitating the exchange and trading of carbon credits on the Vietnamese carbon market (V-ETS),” the Vietnam Forest Certification Centre said.
Japan revised five methodologies under its domestic J-Credit scheme, led by AG-004 for biochar applied to agricultural land, now updated with site-verification guidance. The remaining revisions address livestock feed, biomass fuel switching, high-efficiency refrigeration, and low-emission marine vessels.
The concurrent moves across voluntary and compliance frameworks point to a market converging on higher-integrity standards, with forestry and land-use methods at its centre.