Driving real-world climate action

VCMI is a global nonprofit committed to driving meaningful climate action through the high-integrity use of carbon credits.

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26 February 2026 New guide to developing validation and verification bodies for Africa’s growing carbon market

The report outlines nine priority actions to address the current shortage.

4 November 2025 Coalition Launches Shared Principles for Growing Use of High-Integrity Carbon Credits

A collective, government-backed framework for the use of carbon credits by business.

20 November 2025 New guide on best practices for high-integrity carbon projects in Brazilian Amazon

Produced with the state governments of Acre and Rondônia, providing localized guidance

November 5 2025 VCMI at COP30

Our team is looking forward to COP30 in Brazil, where we will be participating in and speaking at various events.

18 October 2025 VCMI and CVF-V20 partner to upscale the Carbon Finance Program

Closing the climate investment gap in climate vulnerable nations

11 September 2025 New Collaboration to Strengthen High-Quality Carbon Projects in the Brazilian Amazon

Announcing the upcoming Best Practices Guide

19 August 2025 VCMI launches updated Carbon Markets Access Toolkit

Providing dedicated support for governments to unlock finance

17 July 2025 New research reveals what it takes to create a confident carbon market

Businesses need clear, aligned, and stable rules on how and when to use carbon credits.

24 June 2025 Coalition launches at London Climate Action Week

A government-led initiative to scale carbon markets and boost finance for ambitious climate action.

2 June 2025 SBTi must embrace carbon markets to keep net zero within reach

VCMI’s Executive Director Mark Kenber shares key recommendations

22 May 2025 VCMI announces strategic partnership with Government of Panama

Providing in-house support for the development of a high-integrity National Carbon Market

8 May 2025 Call to companies: Join the Scope 3 Action Challenge

Mobilizing corporate action to close the scope 3 emissions gap

30 April 2025 VCMI Launches Scope 3 Action Code of Practice

A high-integrity, practical solution to close the scope 3 emissions gap.

At the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI), we are committed to ensuring everyone understands how carbon credits can help channel climate finance to where it matters most.

We provide guidance for companies and other non-state actors on how they can credibly make voluntary use of carbon credits as part of their climate commitments, and how they can communicate their use of those credits. Our guidance provides clarity, transparency, and consistency on what these commitments and claims mean and will give confidence to all those engaging with voluntary carbon markets.

About VCMI

How can
emerging economies
unlock carbon
finance?

Download the Carbon Markets Access Toolkit

VCMI’s Access Strategies Program is designed to find and fill gaps in carbon market participation around the world. We partner with governments in emerging markets and developing economies to build the foundations for high-integrity carbon markets that work for people, for nature, and for the planet.

 

Our Work

For Companies

Claims Code of Practice

We provide guidance for companies and other non-state actors on how they can credibly make voluntary use of carbon credits as part of their climate commitments, and how they can communicate their use of those credits. Our guidance provides clarity, transparency, and consistency on what these commitments and claims mean and will give confidence to all those engaging with voluntary carbon markets.

Learn more

Resources for making a VCMI Claim

How to make a claim

Leverage high-quality carbon credits to accelerate global net zero.

Carbon Integrity 101

This webinar series teaches companies to learn how to make Carbon Integrity Claims, step-by-step.

Claims Reporting Platform

Companies can submit all information through our easily accessible reporting platform.

For Governments

Access Strategies

VCMI’s Access Strategies Program supports governments in emerging markets and developing economies to engage effectively in high-integrity carbon markets, leveraging financial flows that truly benefits these countries and regions.

Carbon Markets Access Toolkit

VCMI’s Carbon Markets Access Toolkit provides step-by-step guidance to help policymakers in emerging markets and developing economies decide how best to generate and sell carbon credits to access climate finance, catalyze innovation and de-risk investment.

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VCMI partners with the Climate Vulnerable Forum

Ensuring the countries most vulnerable to climate change receive the social, environmental, and economic benefits of voluntary carbon markets.

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“Voluntary Carbon Markets catalyze crucial capital flow into emerging markets, embodying the ‘all hands on deck’ ethos we desperately need. While direct mitigation remains our priority, these markets are vital bridges, channelling resources and efforts where they are most needed. Every action counts, and the leadership of Voluntary Carbon Markets Initiative to foster high-integrity voluntary carbon markets are critical to ensure that the global community can contribute collectively to the biggest challenge humanity has faced.”

Ambassador Patricia Espinosa Former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

“Voluntary carbon markets can be a powerful tool for mobilizing the investment in innovative technologies and actions needed to keep a 1.5°C limit on warming within reach. VCMI is performing a vital service by establishing high-integrity pathways for companies to support stronger climate action while making progress toward their own net zero- goals. By creating sound guardrails for the use of high-quality carbon credits, the new VCMI guidance will provide strong assurance that this finance will help deliver the greater climate action we so urgently need.”

John Kerry U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate

“We would like to congratulate the release of additional guidance for the Claims Code of Practice. The additional guidance could contribute to the operationalization of environmental integrity in voluntary carbon markets. We believe the leadership of VCMI can unlock the finances to accelerate the mitigation activities toward net zero by 2050.”

Mr. Yutaka Matsuzawa Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of the Environment, Japan

“The Claims Code of Practice has a vital role to play in building trust in the voluntary carbon markets and giving companies the confidence they need to invest in vital climate action. We look forward to working with colleagues on the Stakeholder Forum to shape the future development of the Code.”

Philip Brady Emergent

Latest news & events

View all
26 February 2026 New playbook offers guide to developing validation and verification bodies for Africa’s growing carbon market
Press Release | Access Strategies
28 October 2025 The Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets at COP30
Events | COP30
21 October 2025 Carbon Finance Program upscales efforts to close climate investment gap in climate vulnerable nations
Press Release
08 October 2025 Webinar | Guidelines for high-integrity carbon projects in the Brazilian Amazon
Events | COP30
27 August 2025 VCMI at Africa Climate Summit
Events
04 August 2025 Webinar | Accessing High-Integrity Carbon Markets on the Road to COP30: A Toolkit for Policymakers
Events | COP30 + Access Strategies