> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/updates/october-2026-program-update.md). # October 2026 - Program update 9\. October 2026
{% hint style="info" %} **ICR has updated its program documentation following a public consultation held from 12 July to 12 August 2026 and a targeted technical consultation with approved validation and verification bodies held from 16 June to 12 August 2026.** {% endhint %} ICR has released the 2026 ICR Program Update. The update revises five core program documents, was approved by the ICR Board on 1 October 2026 and takes effect on publication on 9 October 2026. It 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, and it clarifies requirements across quantification, leakage, baselines, ownership and assurance. The updates are refinements to the program's existing design rather than a change of direction. ### Focus areas The update concentrates on seven areas: * **Methodology basis.** The transition from CDM to PACM methodologies, with active CDM methodologies recognized as [good practice guidance only](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/updates/august-2026-clarification). * **Quantification.** The move from AR5 to AR6 global warming potentials. * **Leakage.** New definitions and requirements for activity-shifting, market and ecological or biophysical leakage. * **Baselines.** Baseline re-evaluation and downward adjustment requirements. * **Ownership and double counting.** Revised provisions, with the international transfer provisions widened beyond CORSIA. * **Assurance.** A clearer [accreditation basis](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/validation-and-verification/accreditation) for validation and verification bodies, and a more explicit validation and verification specification. * **Scientific integrity.** The scientific integrity assessment remains within the scope of the validation and verification body, with enhanced reporting. ### Public consultation ICR held a [public consultation](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/public-consultation/icr-program/2026/program-revision-july-2026) from 12 July to 12 August 2026 on proposed updates to the ICR Requirement Document, the ICR Methodology Requirements, the ICR Methodology Approval Process and the ICR Definitions. ICR reviewed each submitted comment and supporting attachment individually and concluded that review on 16 September 2026. The comments led to three targeted clarifications: two in the ICR Requirement Document and one in the ICR Methodology Requirements. The outcome report and the full comments and responses matrix are published with the updated documents on the [2026 program revision page](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/public-consultation/icr-program/2026/program-revision-july-2026). ### Targeted consultation with validation and verification bodies In parallel, ICR consulted its approved validation and verification bodies on the proposed ICR Validation and Verification Specifications v3.0 and the associated report templates, from 16 June to 12 August 2026. That consultation followed [earlier engagement](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/public-consultation/icr-program/2026/validation-and-verification-specifications-vvs-consultation) with the same bodies between 26 January and 25 February 2026. The materials were also shared with the accreditation bodies that accredit [ICR-approved validation and verification bodies](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/validation-and-verification/approved-validation-and-verification-bodies-vvbs). Eighteen comment records were reviewed. Fourteen are implemented in the final VVS text, two are retained without amendment and two are implementation actions for the report templates. The consultation was conducted on a confidential basis and individual comments are not attributed. The outcome is published in the [ICR VVS v3.0 targeted consultation report](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/public-consultation/icr-program/2026/validation-and-verification-specifications-v3.0-and-report-templates-consultation). ### Release of updated program documentation The following documents are now in force: * [**ICR Requirement Document**](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/project-development/criteria) **(v6.1 → v6.2)** — methodology basis, global warming potentials, leakage, baseline re-evaluation and downward adjustment, ownership and double counting, international transfers and insurance eligibility criteria. * [**ICR Methodology Requirements**](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/methodology-development/criteria) **(v3.1 → v3.2)** — restructured and clarified requirements on methodology integrity, evidence, traceability, monitoring and validation, including the status of a hypothetical demonstration PDD. * [**ICR Methodology Approval Process**](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/methodology-development/procedural) **(v3.0 → v3.1)** — clarification of the methodology development, consultation, validation, review and approval pathway. * [**ICR Definitions**](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/fundamentals/definitions) **(v3.2 → v3.3)** — alignment of definitions and terminology across the ICR Program documents and with relevant external standards and mechanisms, including the accreditation basis for approved validation and verification bodies. * [**ICR Validation and Verification Specifications**](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/validation-and-verification/criteria) **(v2.0 → v3.0)** — more explicit requirements on materiality and performance materiality, sampling, site and facility visit decisions, findings classification, opinion types, impartiality, competence, remote activities and minimum report content. The [ICR Process Requirements v6.3](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/project-development/procedural/icr-process-requirements-v6.3), published in June 2026, were not part of this update. ### Accreditation ICR recognizes only ISO 14065 accreditation issued by an accreditation body that is a member of [IAF](https://iaf.nu) or [GACI](https://www.global-aci.org), for the relevant validation or verification activity and sectoral scope. ICR no longer relies on accreditation obtained solely under another GHG program as sufficient for performing ICR engagements. Each validation and verification body must designate and disclose to ICR the accreditation under which each ICR engagement is conducted. See [Accreditation](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/validation-and-verification/accreditation). As set out in ICR's letter of 26 March 2026, a body whose ICR approval rests solely on accreditation under an approved GHG program must hold ISO 14065 accreditation from a recognized accreditation body by 31 December 2026 in order to maintain that approval. ICR has written to the accreditation bodies that accredit its approved validation and verification bodies and, consistent with IAF MD 25, has offered to establish an arrangement describing the relationship and the terms of cooperation between ICR as scheme owner and the accreditation body. ### Effective date and sunset period The updated program documents take effect on publication on 9 October 2026. A sunset period applies to allow ongoing projects to transition: * All project validations initiated on or after 1 November 2026 must follow the updated documents. * Projects that commenced validation before 1 November 2026 may continue using the previous version (v6.1) until 28 February 2027. * Registered projects applying v6.0 or later apply v6.2 from their next verification. A validation counts as initiated when ICR has accepted the project's status update to under validation in the registry ([ICR Process Requirements v6.3](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/project-development/procedural/icr-process-requirements-v6.3), section 6.3.3). Projects registered against a version earlier than v6.0 are not affected by this update and continue under the version they are registered against. ICR encourages those projects to move to the current version of the ICR Program, but the update does not require it. The ICR Validation and Verification Specifications v3.0 apply to all ICR engagements from the effective date, irrespective of which version of the ICR Requirement Document applies to the project. The CDM transitional arrangement is unchanged. Projects pre-registered with ICR by 30 June 2026 under that arrangement must complete validation by 31 December 2026, as set out in ICR's [August 2026 clarification on the application of CDM methodologies](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/updates/august-2026-clarification). The dates in summary: | What | When | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------- | | Updated program documents and templates published; VVS v3.0 in force for all ICR engagements | 9 October 2026 | | Validations initiated on or after this date apply ICR Requirement Document v6.2 | 1 November 2026 | | Projects pre-registered under the CDM transitional arrangement complete validation | 31 December 2026 | | Bodies whose ICR approval rests solely on accreditation under an approved GHG program hold ISO 14065 accreditation from a recognized accreditation body | 31 December 2026 | | Validations commenced before 1 November 2026 may continue under v6.1 until | 28 February 2027 | | Registered projects applying v6.0 or later move to v6.2 | At their next verification | ### Implementation support All ICR program templates are updated and published with the approved documents: [project templates](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/project-development/templates), [methodology templates](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/methodology-development/templates) and [validation and verification report templates](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/validation-and-verification/templates). Which template version applies to a project, engagement or methodology is set out in the [October 2026 clarification on applicable ICR templates and VVS (L26100208)](https://documentation.carbonregistry.com/documentation/icr-program/updates/october-2026-program-update/october-2026-clarification). Where an engagement commenced before the updated templates were published and the report is materially complete and ready for submission, the previous report template may be used for four weeks after publication. Methodology validations are treated differently. A methodology validation completed before the effective date of VVS v3.0, with the validation opinion issued, may be submitted using the previous methodology validation report template under VVS v2.0. Methodology validations in progress on that date, and those started after it, use the updated template. ICR will hold two briefing sessions in the coming weeks, one for validation and verification bodies and one for project proponents, and will publish the recordings. If anything is unclear in how the update applies to a particular project or engagement, contact ICR at or through your project chat.