Mantle Labs, Verra pilot remote sensing on rice methane projects
Quantum Commodity Intelligence – US carbon registry Verra is partnering with an AI technology company to launch a pilot scheme to audit VCS projects using remote sensing, beginning with five projects under the inactivated AMS-III.AU rice methane methodology.
The initiative, using remote sensing technology from Mantle Labs' Geotree platform, included the analysis of five sampled projects to identify the flooding status of rice paddies at various growth stages, "ensuring comprehensive representation from project proponents, authorised representatives and validation/verification bodies (VVBs)," Verra said.
The remote sensing analysis was used to check project area, baseline and project adjusted water management practices.
And, while the initial pilot was limited to a few projects, the intention is to apply the technology to future rice methane projects registering under VCS.
Verra permanently inactivated CDM methodology AMS-III.AU methane emission reduction by adjusted water management practice in rice cultivation in March, citing additionality concerns.
Projects that requested listing before February 3 this year were allowed to proceed, however, provided they completed validation no later than September 20.
"Upon identification of quality concerns with projects using AMS-III.AU, we initiated this initiative as a way to obtain an additional and independent assessment of the baseline and project information," said Janice O'Brien, Verra's director of auditing and accreditation, in a statement.
Project-specific findings are being communicated individually via the quality control report reviews that incorporate the remote sensing results, the registry said.
"Until Verra receives responses on the quality control review reports and all findings are satisfactorily addressed, Verra will be pausing all other quality control report reviews issued for the remaining registered projects," it said.
All registered projects will remain on hold, and Verra will continue its pause of any other Verra standards program review requests associated with those projects per its March announcement, it added.
Verra and Mantle Labs will continue collaborating to conduct remote sensing on additional registered projects and projects that had requested registration and issuance by the September 20 deadline.
"Verra will pause reviews of all existing registration and issuance requests until it receives the remote sensing results on the expanded sample," the registry said.
The collaboration "acts as a landmark approach for Verra to ensure the integrity of our projects, propelled by cutting-edge remote sensing and AI technologies," O'Brien said.
"When utilized appropriately, remote sensing analysis can be an extremely effective tool to ensure the accuracy of baseline and project information, whether it is used during project development, VVB audits or Verra project and quality control reviews."
