Can the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) change how the Core Carbon Principles are applied without rewriting them?

Yes, in a limited way. Its August 2026 rule architecture has three tiers: the principles and Assessment Framework, then Interpretations and Technical Notices that may affect how criteria are assessed, then Clarifications on procedure that are not intended to affect eligibility or assessments and must not establish new assessment expectations. None of the instruments directly amends the framework.

The three tiers

1. Tier 1: the Core Carbon Principles (CCP) and the Assessment Framework, the authoritative foundation for assessments.
2. Tier 2: Interpretations and Technical Notices. They support interpretation and technical application and may affect how criteria and requirements are assessed.
3. Tier 3: Clarifications. They cover operational, procedural, administrative or documentation matters and are not intended to affect eligibility or assessments.

Who issues what

• Interpretations are adopted by the Governing Board and explain the meaning, scope or intent of existing provisions.
• Technical Notices are adopted by the Standards Oversight Committee under delegated authority, on technical application such as methodologies, parameters and data sources.
• Clarifications are issued by the Executive Secretariat under delegated authority.

What a Tier 2 instrument can change

After its effective date it may, depending on the instrument, change assessment outcomes for future applicants and submitted methodologies, change future issuances tagged as CCP-Approved under an approved methodology, add new documentation or assurance expectations, or set a precedent for multiple assessments.

If instruments disagree

The higher tier prevails. The architecture says none of the instruments directly amends or revises the principles or the Assessment Framework, and that it does not preclude amendments to them through separate governance processes.

What to do

• Read the Assessment Framework version number on any summary you rely on, then check the ICVCM website for Interpretations or Technical Notices issued since.
• Our reading: put the date you checked in your due diligence file.

What Senseible does here

Senseible reads fuel invoices and electricity bills into monthly records, which gives a project its own fuel and power history. Credits are issued by the program's registry and checked by an independent verifier, not by Senseible's own check.

• The ten Core Carbon Principles and how to check the label
• Principle 10: contribution to the net zero transition
• What to check before buying a carbon credit
• Carbon credits for Indian businesses

Sources: Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market, CCP Rule Architecture with Annexes, August 2026 (sections III and IV)

Last reviewed 2026-11-05. Read from the Integrity Council's CCP Rule Architecture document of August 2026. The instruments it describes are issued over time, so check icvcm.org for the current list before you rely on any of them.