Australia’s Tasman Environmental Markets (TEM) has announced that its improved cookstove project in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has become the world’s first to issue Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) under Verra’s VM0050 methodology.
VM0050, introduced in October 2024, sets a new benchmark for energy efficiency and fuel-switch projects involving cookstoves.
Its alignment with the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market’s (ICVCM) Core Carbon Principles signals robust environmental and social standards.
The milestone issuance follows a successful third-party audit by SustainCERT and is seen as a breakthrough for scalable, community-based climate solutions.
Relevant: ICVCM Gives Green Light For Three Stricter Cookstove Methodologies
“We’re proud to lead the way with the first-ever project approved under this robust methodology,” Michaela Morris, CEO of TEM, said in a company statement earlier this week.
TEM’s project—Healthier Homes, Healthier Forests, implemented directly by its in-country team in PNG’s Southern Highlands, provides improved cookstoves at no cost to local households.
The stoves cut down on firewood use, reduce indoor air pollution, and open up economic opportunities—especially for women.
Morris noted that PNG holds significant potential for climate initiatives that also deliver social and economic benefits.
More than 80% of households in the country rely on traditional indoor open-fire cooking, which contributes to deforestation and serious health risks.
By addressing these challenges, the project is expected to prevent nearly 3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over a decade.
With support from the PNG Climate Change and Development Authority and local provincial governments, TEM aims to distribute up to 200,000 stoves, reaching 50,000 households by 2026.
The initiative supports PNG’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and commitment to inclusive climate action, positioning the country at the forefront of climate innovation.
