Peatland Code Grievance Process

The IUCN UK PP is committed to ensure that the grievance and appeal process is as transparent and fair as possible. If you have any of the grievances listed below, please complete this form with as much information as possible and email it to the info@iucn.org.uk and copy in the peatlandcode@iucn.org.uk. Our disputes coordinator will then confirm receipt of your grievance within 15 working days and assign you a unique reference number. 

1. Governance – grievances relating to the governance of the Peatland Code and related policies, including for example the Conflicts of Interest Policy. 

2. Application of the Peatland Code – grievances relating to the interpretation and application of requirements for projects set out in the Peatland Code and related normative documents (such as the Peatland Code Guidance Document and the Peatland Code Field Protocol). 

3. Service levels and delivery – unresolved grievances concerning the quality or standard of services provided by the bodies administering the Peatland Code and/or third‑party Validation/Verification Bodies, where these issues have not been adequately addressed through their own internal grievance processes

4. Use of the Risk Buffer – grievances relating to a decision of the Peatland Code Executive Board regarding whether an emissions reduction reversal is intentional or unintentional and whether a project is entitled to benefit from the Risk Buffer. 

Please note that the following grievances should be raised directly with the VVB organisation and follow their grievance process.  

• Service levels and delivery must be raised in the first instance with the VVB only if these still remain unresolved grievance should be submitted
• Validation and Verification opinion statements issued by Validation/Verification Bodies.
• Decisions taken by Validation/Verification Bodies on non-compliance.
• Validation and Verification audits conducted by Validation/Verification Bodies. 

Appeals

A Claimant is entitled to Appeal: 

1. any decision of the Disputes Panel in respect of a Grievance which they have raised; or 

2. any decision of the Peatland Code Executive Board regarding whether an emissions reduction reversal is intentional or unintentional and whether a project is entitled to benefit from the Risk Buffer, 

provided that the Claimant submits its Appeal within 28 days of the date of receipt of the relevant decision by completing the Appeals Form and sending it via email to info@iucn.org.uk and peatlandcode@iucn.org.uk. 
 
For more information, please see our Appeals and Grievance procedure.