The Project Developer Forum (PD Forum), representing over 50 carbon project developers worldwide, welcomes the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market’s (ICVCM) efforts to enhance the integrity of carbon markets and appreciates the clarity provided on cookstove methodologies.
These changes are regarded as an important step toward strengthening market confidence and ensuring the credibility of carbon credits.
The Integrity Council’s endorsement of three cookstove methodologies gives a clear market signal that high quality cookstove projects are an important part of the climate solution, submits the PD Forum, adding that some 2 billion people worldwide lack access to clean cooking, generating the same emissions annually as the aviation industry.
Quality clean cooking projects generate emission reductions that buyers can rely on, alongside a range of social and health co-benefits for communities, notes the group.
It adds: “While the PD Forum welcomes the Integrity Council’s announcement, we believe some decisions, such as those related to fNRB (fraction of non-renewable biomass) and the wood-to-charcoal conversion factor (WCCF), require further refinement and validation. For example, the fixed WCCF of 4:1, is overly conservative and does not fully reflect the reality of informal charcoal production in Africa – where values can reach 11:1.
“Meanwhile, the MoFuSS model for fNRB is still under validation by the CDM Executive Board. We encourage further research and alignment with ongoing discussions at the UNFCCC level, to ensure regional variations and the latest data are accurately represented in future standards.”
The PD Forum recognises that the evolving standards bring greater clarity and consistency to the market, helping buyers make more informed purchasing decisions.
“These improvements will enhance the credibility of carbon credits, reducing reputational risks and ensuring that investments drive genuine climate impact. Now is the time for buyers to engage – by supporting projects that are transitioning to these higher standards, they can secure future-proofed credits with strong environmental integrity. Transparent timelines, structured pathways, and clear guidance will be essential in making this transition smooth for both developers and buyers.”
Many project developers are said to be proactively transitioning to the latest methodologies, meaning a wave of high-quality, verifiable credits will soon be available to buyers. To maintain momentum, PD Forum says it is essential that regulatory transitions are handled carefully – without forcing changes on existing projects mid-cycle, as this could disrupt financial models and investor confidence.
“A stable regulatory environment will allow buyers to access credible, future-proofed credits while ensuring long-term market trust.”
The PD Forum says it remains committed to supporting market integrity and the transition to robust methodologies.
“We look forward to collaborating with the ICVCM and other stakeholders to ensure these adjustments are both practical and effective, enabling developers to continue delivering meaningful climate and social benefits,” the group concluded.
The PD Forum is a global network and collective voice of companies and practitioners dedicated to developing and financing greenhouse gas emission reduction projects.
With a diverse membership that spans all regions, it brings together in-depth technical expertise and practical experience with international carbon markets.
The ICVCM is an independent governance body for the voluntary carbon market, which aims to maximise its potential to finance climate solutions.
The Integrity Council enables a high-integrity voluntary carbon market that contributes to the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by setting and enforcing a global benchmark for high-quality carbon credits – the Core Carbon Principles (CCPs).