Global Carbon Council (GCC) Overview

Updated 2026-11-02 · 4 min read · By the akar.earth specialist team

Global Carbon Council explained: GCC's program, its CCP-Eligible status under GCC 2.0, sector coverage and what it means for Indonesian project developers.

The Global Carbon Council (GCC) is a Qatar-based voluntary carbon crediting program that issues Approved Carbon Credits (ACCs) and was recently found CCP-Eligible by ICVCM for projects under GCC 2.0. Its portfolio is weighted towards energy and industry, so for Indonesian forest carbon it is a secondary option, but it matters for renewable energy and for buyers comparing CCP-Eligible programs.

What GCC is

GCC was set up as the first voluntary carbon program in the Middle East and North Africa. It runs program rules, methodologies (many adapted from CDM) and a registry. Its unit is the Approved Carbon Credit (ACC).

GCC has also positioned itself for compliance-linked demand. It has been involved in aviation (CORSIA) eligibility processes; check ICAO’s current list of eligible units before relying on that. See our page on CORSIA eligible units.

ICVCM decision on GCC

ICVCM’s published decision is precise:

This means not every ACC issued by GCC is eligible for the CCP label. Older projects, or projects outside GCC 2.0, are outside the decision. And the methodology used must itself be CCP-Approved.

ICVCM has also been strict on renewable energy. In July 2024 its Governing Board decided that several renewable energy methodologies did not meet CCP criteria and asked programs to revise additionality approaches. A later batch approved a revised grid-connected renewable methodology (VMR0017) for Verra on a conditional basis. GCC’s energy-heavy portfolio is directly affected by these decisions.

Who uses it

• Developers in the Middle East, South Asia and Turkey, especially renewable energy.
• Buyers seeking credits from a CCP-Eligible program with Gulf-region links.
• Compliance-linked buyers, where eligibility rules allow.

Key requirements

Under GCC 2.0, projects should expect:

• Program rules on eligibility, additionality, baseline and monitoring.
• Approved methodologies, often derived from CDM.
• Environmental and social safeguards, including no-net-harm and SDG reporting.
• Validation and verification by accredited bodies.
• ICVCM eligibility standard compliance for credits intended for the CCP label.

Download GCC’s current documents for version details; we have not verified every clause.

How it applies in Indonesia and Southeast Asia

For Indonesian land projects, GCC is unlikely to be the first choice:

• Methodology fit. Forest ARR, REDD+ and blue carbon in Indonesia rely on methodologies such as VM0047, VM0048 and VM0033, which GCC does not replicate as far as we have seen.
• Domestic rules. Perpres 110/2025 is the legal anchor; units traded on IDXCarbon must be recorded in SRUK. Any GCC project would need the same domestic approvals.
• Article 6. If credits may be used for Article 6 or CORSIA, Indonesia would need to authorise them and apply corresponding adjustments. See Article 6.2 and ITMOs.

GCC may suit Indonesian renewable energy or industrial efficiency projects whose owners already know Gulf buyers. Our carbon strategy service compares programs against target buyers.

Evaluating GCC credits as a buyer

If you are offered GCC credits from an Indonesian or Asian project, check:

• Registration track. Is the project registered under GCC 2.0, and does it follow the ICVCM eligibility standard v1.1 or later?
• Methodology decision. Is the methodology CCP-Approved, conditional, or not approved?
• Vintage and issuance date, relative to when GCC’s eligibility applies.
• Host-country position. Does Indonesia require domestic registration or authorisation for the intended use? Under Perpres 110/2025, units traded on IDXCarbon are recorded in SRUK.
• Safeguards evidence. Look for documented stakeholder consultation and grievance processes.
• Ratings. Check whether independent ratings agencies cover the project.

A short screening memo with these points is usually enough to decide whether deeper due diligence is worth the cost.

In practice, most Indonesian land developers will compare GCC only briefly. The more important lesson from the GCC decision is how ICVCM scopes eligibility: by program version, by project registration track and by an explicit eligibility standard. Expect the same precision when you check any program, including the larger ones.

Common pitfalls

• Assuming all GCC credits are CCP-ready. Eligibility applies to GCC 2.0 projects under the ICVCM eligibility standard.
• Ignoring methodology-level decisions. Renewable energy methodologies face tougher additionality tests.
• Treating CORSIA status as permanent. ICAO lists change by compliance phase.

Relationship to ICVCM CCP status

GCC holds the program tick under the GCC 2.0 condition. The second tick depends on the methodology. Read Core Carbon Principles and our CCP label explainer, or return to the standards hub.