Dec 6 • PATRICA JOYCE N

ICROA Passes the Torch: Celebrating a Carbon Market Pioneer

In early December 2025, the voluntary carbon market community received a bittersweet announcement: the International Carbon Reduction and Offsetting Alliance (ICROA) will wind down operations by late 2026. Founded in 2008 by a group of carbon credit experts in the UK, US, and Australia, ICROA was built by the market, for the market at a time when no other integrity framework existed.
Its founding mission was to strengthen best practices and transparency in the emerging voluntary carbon market. Over 15 years, ICROA’s  Code of Best Practice became a widely recognized benchmark, helping companies and projects gauge and report performance. Its Managing Director, Andrea Abrahams, rightly notes that ICROA’s community “helped pave the way” for the integrity frameworks we rely on today.

ICROA’s impact was broad and tangible. By creating the first independent accreditation and endorsement scheme, ICROA became the go-to quality mark for carbon programs and buyers. All major standards like the Gold Standard, Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), the Climate Action Reserve, Plan Vivo, city and country offset programs, and even governmental schemes sought ICROA's endorsement.

Corporate buyers of offsets also looked for ICROA approval as a sign of high integrity. In short, ICROA helped knit together a diverse ecosystem of standards, registries, and projects under a common badge of credibility.
  • Pioneering Best Practices: ICROA’s Code of Best Practice was one of the first comprehensive rulebooks for voluntary offsets, raising the bar on transparency and reporting.
  • Wide Endorsement: Dozens of carbon crediting programs – from established ones to innovative new ones – earned ICROA endorsement, reflecting broad industry buy-in.
  • Market Confidence: By certifying that endorsed programs met high standards, ICROA gave buyers and stakeholders confidence that credits were credible.
As a result of these efforts, the voluntary carbon market steadily matured. ICROA’s “Approval” and “Endorsement” programs became hallmarks of quality, and ICROA’s seal appeared in countless project and company disclosures. Many practitioners will remember ICROA’s guidance in annual reports and marketing materials as a symbol of trust.
A New Era of Oversight

In recent years, however, the carbon market has evolved further. Global meta-standard initiatives have emerged to take integrity and governance to the next level. Notably, the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) and the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) have developed robust frameworks, such as the Core Carbon Principles and Claims Code of Practice, aiming for broad international alignment. Recognizing this shift, ICROA’s board decided that its mission was effectively complete. As ICROA’s announcement stated, “new initiatives are well placed to continue the work that ICROA began.” In other words, the gap ICROA originally filled – the need for a clear, cross-market code – is now being addressed by these larger, more global efforts.
This passing of the baton symbolizes the growing maturity of the carbon market. ICROA’s closure is not a failure but a success: it means the market has advanced to a stage where independent, high-level governance bodies have taken the lead. It reflects that after 15 years of pioneering self-regulation, the industry can now lean on stronger, consensus-driven frameworks.

Looking Forward

We salute ICROA for its leadership and indispensable contributions to carbon market integrity. Its legacy will endure in the higher standards and confidence it helped establish. ICVCM noted in a recent statement, “ICROA’s code of best practice has played a foundational role” and together we move towards “a market that helps deliver on the Paris goals.” The voluntary carbon market stands on a stronger foundation thanks to ICROA, and we owe it a debt of gratitude.

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