Governance Structure
The MCC programme is governed through a multi-stakeholder structure that ensures scientific rigor, transparency, and inclusive decision-making. Each body has clearly defined responsibilities aligned with the MCC-700 Governance Standard.
Governance Board
Strategic oversight of programme direction, policy decisions, approval of major programme changes, and resolution of governance disputes. Multi-stakeholder composition ensuring diverse representation.
Technical Advisory Committee
Develops new methodologies, reviews and approves methodology changes, ensures scientific rigor, and evaluates alignment with international standards and best practices.
Methodology Panel
Expert-led panel conducting detailed technical reviews of proposed methodologies, assessments against MCC-200 standards, and recommendations to the Governance Board.
Stakeholder Forum
Regular engagement with marine conservation experts, project developers, validators, verifiers, and environmental organizations for input on programme evolution.
Registry Manager
Manages the transparent credit registry, oversees credit issuance and retirement, ensures integrity of the ledger system, and provides public access to all registry data.
Independent Validators & Verifiers
Accredited independent bodies conducting project validation, verification, and ongoing monitoring to ensure independence and credibility of all assessments.
Decision-Making Processes
All MCC decisions follow transparent, documented processes. Major approval pathways for projects and methodologies are detailed below, ensuring scientific rigor and stakeholder input.
Project Approval Process
- 1.Completeness review by Programme Administrator
- 2.Technical review by Methodology Panel
- 3.Independent validation by accredited Validator
- 4.Project documentation verification
- 5.Approval decision by Governance Board
- 6.Credit issuance by Registry Manager
Methodology Approval Process
- 1.Submission by methodology developer
- 2.Initial technical screening
- 3.Detailed review by Expert Panel against MCC-200
- 4.Public consultation period (30 days minimum)
- 5.Panel recommendation to Governance Board
- 6.Board approval or rejection decision
- 7.Publication in methodology library
Appeals & Grievance Mechanism
MCC maintains a transparent appeals process ensuring all stakeholders can contest decisions they believe are inconsistent with programme standards, policies, or procedures. Appeals are reviewed by an independent panel.
Appeal Process Steps
- 1.Project proponent submits written appeal with specific grounds and supporting evidence
- 2.Preliminary completeness check by Registry Manager
- 3.Appeal review initiated by independent review panel
- 4.Review of original decision and appeal submission in detail
- 5.Consultation with relevant parties and decision-makers if needed
- 6.Written decision with detailed rationale provided to applicant
- 7.Opportunity for further escalation to Governance Board if applicant disagrees
Conflict of Interest Policy
All MCC governance bodies and decision-makers must disclose potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from decisions where conflicts exist. This ensures independence and credibility.
- ✓All board members, panel members, and reviewers complete annual conflict declarations
- ✓Validators and verifiers cannot assess projects where they have financial interest
- ✓Staff members recuse from decisions affecting their direct interests
- ✓Third-party review required when conflicts cannot be avoided
- ✓All conflicts disclosed in public decision documents
Transparency Commitments
Public Registry
All credits, projects, methodologies, and decisions publicly accessible with audit trails
Open Decisions
All governance decisions published with detailed rationale and supporting information
Stakeholder Engagement
Regular public consultations and comment periods on major programme changes
Audit Trails
Complete documentation of all decisions, approvals, and appeals with timestamps
Annual Reports
Published governance reports detailing decisions, statistics, and programme evolution
Communications
Regular updates to stakeholders through newsletters, meetings, and website
Governance Standards
MCC governance is grounded in detailed standards published in the MCC-700 Governance Standard. Key standards include:
Decision-making processes, appeals, and stakeholder engagement
Programme founding principles and governance objectives
Core rules, roles, and governance framework
Validator and verifier independence requirements