In early December, Genvision had the privilege of hosting a roundtable discussion with validation and verification bodies (VVBs) to explore how AI can support the carbon compliance industry. The conversation, held under Chatham House Rules with support from the International Association of Validation and Verification Bodies, revealed both the exciting potential and the current challenges of integrating AI for auditors.
Here's a snapshot of our discussion:
The capacity challenge
One theme emerged clearly from the discussion: VVBs are stretched thin. Project volumes are growing faster than auditor capacity. VVB teams are navigating increasingly complex and constantly evolving requirements under tight deadlines. This pressure creates a genuine risk of trade-offs between speed and quality, something no one in the carbon markets wants to see.
AI as a Co-Pilot, not a replacement
There was unanimous agreement among auditors that AI should serve as a powerful assistant, not a replacement for human auditors. The technology shows real promise for automating time-consuming desk review tasks, e.g. spotting mathematical errors, flagging inconsistencies between documents, ensuring templates are followed correctly, and tracking updates to methodologies.
But when it comes to the nuanced work that defines quality auditing, such as assessing community impact, verifying physical site conditions, evaluating additionality, human judgment remains irreplaceable. These decisions require context, experience, and the kind of professional judgment that AI is best dealt with by human experts with wealth of experience in the market.
The Standards gap
One of the most insightful findings was the fragmented state of AI adoption across the industry. Some VVBs are actively experimenting with AI tools, while others remain hesitant. Most usage is "bottom-up", i.e. individuals or small teams adopting tools on their own initiative rather than part of a coordinated organisational or industry-wide strategy.
The reason? VVBs recognise AI's potential but are understandably concerned about unknown risks to audit integrity. With AI tools now widely available but no clear guidance from accreditation bodies and standards organizations, many VVBs feel they would be taking on technology risk alone.
A path forward
The solution, participants agreed, lies in collaborative leadership from standards bodies and accreditation organisations. VVBs are calling for these institutions to develop, recommend, or approve AI solutions for validators and verifiers. This approach would share liability between auditors and standards, creating a safer environment for adoption while ensuring unified, standardised approaches endorsed by accreditation bodies like ANAB and UKAS.
The potential upside is significant. AI assistance could free up valuable auditor time for high-value decision-making and field validation work. As AI capabilities continue to advance beyond simple repetitive tasks into more sophisticated reasoning, the opportunity to alleviate capacity constraints while maintaining audit integrity becomes increasingly compelling.
What's next?
The path forward requires industry-wide collaboration. Standards bodies need to provide the frameworks that will allow VVBs to adopt AI with confidence. With the right guardrails in place, AI can help the carbon compliance industry scale to meet growing demand without compromising the quality and integrity that underpin trust in carbon markets.
At Genvision, we're committed to being part of this solution. We've been developing AI tools designed specifically for the needs of VVBs while working closely with the industry to establish the standards and best practices that will enable responsible adoption.
The conversation has started. Now it's time to turn insights into action.
