Board independence and the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities

Background

The Integrity Council sets and maintains the independent global threshold for high-integrity carbon credits. This threshold is based on the Core Carbon Principles and implemented through the Assessment Framework.

In 2026, the Integrity Council adopted the CCP Rule Architecture, which establishes a structured approach for developing and applying Interpretations, Technical Notices and Clarifications to support the consistent application and evolution of the CCP rule base.

As the Integrity Council prepares to assess carbon-crediting programs with different legal and institutional structures, including government-administered programs, it has identified two areas where further clarity would support consistent application of the Assessment Framework:

• what criterion 1.1 a) 1) requires when it calls for a board comprised of independent board members; and
• how criterion 7.6 a) 1), concerning the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, applies where a program’s rules do not refer explicitly to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) or ILO Convention 169.

These questions are relevant to all carbon-crediting programs, whether independent or government-administered.

Scope of the consultation

The consultation seeks feedback on two proposed Clarifications of general application:

1. The first proposed Clarification sets out how the Integrity Council assesses board independence under criterion 1.1 a) 1). It describes the body or bodies to which the requirement applies, the relationships and interests considered when determining whether a member is independent, and the expected composition of a board or equivalent governing body.
2. The second proposed Clarification sets out how criterion 7.6 a) 1) is applied where a country has not ratified ILO Convention 169 or endorsed UNDRIP, or where a carbon-crediting program expresses the relevant protections through its own safeguard requirements rather than referring to those instruments by name.

The proposed Clarifications apply to independent and government-administered programs alike. They are intended to record the approach applied in assessments to date and are not proposed amendments to the Assessment Framework. The consultation does not revisit the Governing Board’s decision that government-administered programs may be assessed and may become CCP-Eligible where they meet the relevant criteria and requirements.

What happens next

The consultation is open until 3 December 2026, 11:59 pm Pacific Time. Responses should be submitted through the online consultation form.

The Integrity Council will consider the responses received and will publish the responses alongside a high-level summary. It will then determine whether and how the Clarifications should be refined before proceeding through the Integrity Council’s governance process.

If consultation feedback indicates that either proposal could affect how an Assessment Framework criterion or requirement is assessed, the Integrity Council will consider whether the matter should instead be addressed through a Tier 2 instrument under the CCP Rule Architecture.