The International Carbon Registry (ICR) has published its 2026 ICR Program Update. Including revisions to five core documents covering project requirements and methodologies, as well as the requirements to be met by independent verification and validation bodies, the update strengthens alignment with the ICAO CORSIA Emissions Unit Criteria, with Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, and with the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market.

ICR is a global greenhouse gas (GHG) program and electronic registration system for climate projects, founded in 2020 and headquartered in Iceland. ICR issues ICR Carbon Credits (ICCs) to climate projects that conform to ICR’s requirements, ensuring that every credit represents real, measurable, and high-integrity emissions reductions or removals.

Key amongst the new features of ICR’s programme is the change in project methodology from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM), with active CDM methodologies becoming good-practice guidance only. This change was outlined in ICR’s August 2026 clarification (L26081901).

In addition, there are now new requirements for activity-shifting, market and ecological leakage, as well as for the re-evaluation and downward adjustment of baselines. Revised provisions have also been provided in terms of credit ownership and double counting, with international transfer provisions widened beyond the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

Regarding validation and verification, awarding bodies must hold ISO 14065 accreditation from a member of the International Accreditation Forum or the Greenhouse Gas Accreditation Consortium. New ICR Validation and Verification Specifications v3.0 set clearer expectations on materiality, sampling, site visits, findings and reporting. The assessment of scientific integrity remains within the scope of the validation and verification body, with enhanced reporting.

The update took effect on 9 October. All ICR project, methodology, and report templates have been updated and were published alongside the revised documents. Transitional arrangements are documented for current projects.