Soil carbon: measurements matter more than promises
Verra’s consultation highlights sampling, repeated measurements and uncertainty assessment.
Source date: 2026-02-11 · Sources checked: 21 October 2026
A dated standards development
Verra opened a consultation on major revisions to VM0042 and VMD0053 on 11 February 2026, running until 31 March. Proposals address repeated soil-carbon measurements, model evaluation, baselines and more consistent sampling and laboratory procedures. A consultation announcement does not establish that every proposal is now in force.
Questions for growers
Our suggested checks cover sampling depth and frequency, baseline conditions, verification, measurement costs and potential carbon reversals. Carbon accounting addresses a specific climate outcome; it does not replace monitoring of water, erosion, biodiversity and crop performance, or guarantee income.