Published on 19 January 2026

Issue 23 "Offsetting CO2 emissions" newsletter, 19th of January 2026

In this newsletter, the Compensation Office informs you about important decisions, innovations and publications on the subject of offsetting Switzerland's carbon emissions.

1. Validation and verification bodies (VVBs) must now submit applications electronically

The following changes allow secure and clearly structured applications by VVBs:

• Legally binding submission via CORE

  VVBs may now only submit documents relating to applications and monitoring reports via the CORE information and documentation system; such documents may no longer be submitted via email (Art. 130a para. 1 let. a CO₂ Ordinance). The signed originals of the project descriptions and monitoring reports must no longer be submitted by post – it is also sufficient to submit a digitally signed document. This is not stated in the enforcement notices “Offsetting CO₂ emissions: projects and programmes” and “Offsetting CO₂ emissions: validation and verification”, which is yet to be updated. If no version is submitted by post, the date of submission is the date confirmed in CORE.

• Regulation of expenses under private law

  Responsibility for meeting submission deadlines and the costs of submission incurred by VVBs are to be settled between the applicant and the VVBs under private law. Under the amended CO₂ Ordinance (Art. 9 para. 5, in force since 1 May 2025) VVBs are now responsible for submitting the documents (see above) in addition to their previous tasks. Any resulting costs may be charged to the applicant. The VVBs thus provide additional quality assurance, which has been provided by the Compensation Office until now.

• Application review

  When checking the application, the Compensation Office may raise correction requests with the VVB if it is found the documentation submitted is insufficient or incomplete. The Office will still raise any other questions regarding content with CR/CAR directly with the applicant or a contact person designated by him. The VVBs’ independence is not affected.

• Projects abroad

  The applicant may submit the public (redacted) versions of the documents to the Compensation Office also after the content has been reviewed but before the Letter of Authorisation is issued. In the case of projects abroad, it is usually necessary to amend documents after submission and before authorisation; with this change, public versions no longer have to be submitted more than once.

CORE Portal

• CORE instructions for VVB

  PDF359.06 kB19 January 2026

2. Updating of requirements for offsetting projects

Project credibility and quality is in the interests of all parties involved. The requirements should therefore be adapted flexibly and swiftly.

In order to implement new findings and so improve project quality swiftly, the Compensation Office continuously assesses and improves the requirements and endeavours to publish updates as soon as possible (see next item). However, in a dynamic environment and with limited resources, this is not always entirely possible, and in some cases the applicant may only be informed of the current requirements during the application review process.

To ensure that all applications are treated in equal fashion, projects and programmes must meet all the Compensation Office’s requirements for offsetting projects that are applicable on the date of submission. This may mean that different criteria apply to applications submitted at different dates.

3. Updated guidelines for cookstove projects, new guidelines for methane emission reductions in rice projects and photovoltaic projects

The document entitled ‘Process description for authorisation and specific requirements for monitoring, reporting and verifying mitigation activities under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement’ (Guidelines) has been updated. The new version incorporates several updates, including revisions to Chapter 4 on cookstove projects and the addition of new chapters on methane emission reductions in rice cultivation (Chapter 5) and photovoltaic projects (Chapter 6).

NB: The most recently published version of the document is always binding. The previous version remains valid for three months after publication of the new version. Projects that do not meet these requirements will not be authorised.

• Process description for authorization and specific requirements for Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of mitigation activities under Art. 6 of the Paris Agreement

  PDF663.28 kB13 January 2026

4. Change to domestic monitoring reports – reduction in fees

Since 26 August 2025, there has been a 50% reduction in the fee for monitoring reports submitted in Switzerland (i.e. CHF 560 instead of CHF 1,120) – regardless of when the report was submitted. The amount in Annex B to the document ‘Offsetting CO2 emissions: projects and programmes’ remains unchanged, as this specifies the maximum amount. This change has been made as the monitoring reports now submitted in Switzerland have increased in quality, so less auditing is required.

Versions of the notice “Offsetting CO₂ emissions: projects and programmes”
Annex B: Invoicing of work in accordance with the FOEN Fees Ordinance

5. Storage of documents for validation/verification by the VVB

The VVB is required to store all documents received from the applicant for assessment purposes until at least the date on which the decision on the project comes into effect, i.e. 30 working days after it has been issued. This rule ensures that all relevant documents remain available for inspections and audits and that validation and verification traceability is assured.