akar.earthThe ICVCM CCP Label: Two-Tick Assessment Explained
CCP label carbon credits explained: how ICVCM's two-tick assessment works, how credits are tagged, and what Indonesian projects need to qualify.
A CCP-labelled carbon credit is one issued under a CCP-Eligible program using a CCP-Approved methodology: ICVCM calls this the “two-tick” assessment, and only credits with both ticks can carry the label. ICVCM cites an MSCI estimate that about 107 million credits had been approved to use the label by April 2026.
The two ticks
| Tick | What is assessed | Who is assessed | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. CCP-Eligible program | Governance, tracking, transparency, validation and verification | The carbon crediting program | Verra VCS, Gold Standard, ART TREES |
| 2. CCP-Approved methodology | Additionality, permanence, quantification, double counting, safeguards | The methodology or category | Verra VM0047 v1.1 |
ICVCM’s status tables list 13 CCP-Eligible programs and 45 CCP-Approved methodologies. Its published decisions name ACR, ART TREES, CAR, Equitable Earth, Gold Standard, GCC, Isometric, Puro.Earth, Rainbow and Verra as eligible programs. For the principles behind each tick, see Core Carbon Principles.
Types of decision
ICVCM decisions come in several forms:
- CCP-Approved. The methodology meets the threshold.
- CCP-Approved (Conditional). It meets the threshold if specific conditions are applied, often at project level.
- Remedial actions required. It does not yet meet the threshold. The Governing Board must take a further decision, after Expert Panel and Standards Oversight Committee input, before approval.
- Not approved. The methodology does not meet the criteria.
Examples from a recent batch: GCC became CCP-Eligible for GCC 2.0 projects; Isometric’s Mangrove Restoration Protocol v1.0 was CCP-Approved; ART TREES v2.0 HFLD and removals crediting levels require remedial actions. ICVCM noted that none of the 58.4 million HFLD credits issued are eligible for CCP labels.
How credits are tagged
CCP-Eligible programs tag eligible credits in their registries. ICVCM’s Tagging Manual sets out how programs identify and label CCP-Approved credits, building on Section 4 of the Assessment Procedure. Verra notes that CCP labels require additional project-level conditions, checked during verification review.
In practice, a credit may be issued under an approved methodology but still not be tagged if:
- It was issued under an older version that is not approved.
- Its vintage or project falls outside the decision’s scope.
- Project-level conditions were not met.
Who cares about the label
- Buyers use it as a minimum quality filter and to support claims, for example under the VCMI Claims Code.
- Traders and exchanges may create separate products for labelled and unlabelled credits.
- Developers use it to reach buyers who will not consider unlabelled credits.
The label is a threshold, not a grade. Ratings agencies still differentiate. BeZero’s ratings of 11 ex-post Indonesian projects average ‘A’, and prices rise about 40% per rating band. See credit ratings agencies.
How it applies in Indonesia and Southeast Asia
Indonesian projects can reach the label through several routes:
- ARR: VM0047 v1.0 and v1.1 under Verra are CCP-Approved.
- REDD+: VM0048 with jurisdiction-allocated baselines, or jurisdictional programs under ART TREES (excluding HFLD for now).
- Blue carbon: coastal and mangrove restoration is an approved category; check the specific methodology and version.
- Agriculture: VM0042 v2.2 is CCP-Approved.
Domestic compliance is separate. Perpres 110/2025 is the legal anchor, and exchange-traded units must be recorded in SRUK. A CCP label does not replace Indonesian approvals, and Indonesian approval does not create a CCP label.
A checklist for sellers
Before promising labelled credits in an offtake or term sheet, a seller should confirm:
- The program is on ICVCM’s CCP-Eligible list, and any program-level condition (such as GCC 2.0) is met.
- The exact methodology version used is CCP-Approved, and whether approval is conditional.
- Project-level conditions the program checks at verification, such as specific safeguard or quantification requirements.
- The vintages and issuances covered by the decision.
- How and when the registry will tag the credits.
Write the label as a condition in contracts, with a fallback if credits are issued untagged. Our carbon strategy team drafts these terms with project data in hand.
Buyers should run the same checklist in reverse before signing.
Common pitfalls
- Claiming the label before tagging. Only tagged credits on the registry carry it.
- Using a superseded version. Approval is version-specific.
- Ignoring conditions. Conditional approvals bring extra verification checks.
- Assuming the label is permanent. ICVCM can revisit decisions after material changes.
Next steps
Check your methodology on the ICVCM status table, read our VM0047 page, or return to the standards hub. Our due diligence service screens credits and projects for label eligibility.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CCP-labelled carbon credit?
A CCP-labelled credit is one issued under a CCP-Eligible program using a CCP-Approved methodology, and tagged as such on the program's registry. It signals that the credit meets ICVCM's integrity threshold.
What does two-tick mean?
Two ticks means both checks are passed: the carbon crediting program is CCP-Eligible, and the methodology used is CCP-Approved. One tick alone is not enough for the label.
How many CCP-labelled credits exist?
ICVCM cites an MSCI estimate, accessed 20 April 2026, that about 107 million credits have been approved to use the CCP label, of which about 63 million appear available and 44 million have been retired or cancelled.
Can an Indonesian ARR project get the CCP label?
Yes, if it uses a CCP-Approved methodology such as Verra VM0047 v1.0 or v1.1 under the VCS Program and meets any project-level conditions Verra checks at verification.