The guide, produced as part of VCMI’s Access Strategies Program, is designed to help governments and financial authorities test and refine carbon market regulations in a controlled, evidence-based way.

Carbon markets hold significant potential for financial innovation and growth. Voluntary carbon markets are projected to reach US$ 5–20  billion by 2030 and US$ 60–270 billion by 2050. However, carbon markets are constrained by structural challenges such as inconsistent credit quality, limited transparency, high transaction costs, and regulatory uncertainty. These obstacles undermine market confidence and limit the flow of capital to high-impact climate-mitigation projects. However, there is a lot that regulators can do to reduce such risk and create a positive enabling environment for investors, buyers, and project developers.  

To support the establishment of regulatory frameworks that balance financial innovation, environmental integrity, and risk protections for investors and consumers, CCA and VCMI have developed a guide on the use of regulatory sandboxes: a practical tool that allows governments to trial regulatory approaches to carbon finance before committing them to law.

Regulatory sandboxes provide controlled live environments for testing innovations such as carbon-credit linked bonds, securitized carbon transactions, blockchain carbon registries, AI-driven monitoring systems, and tokenized credits while maintaining environmental integrity and investor protection.

“Carbon markets hold significant opportunities for climate-positive growth in emerging markets and developing economies, but accessing growing demand for carbon credits requires specialist knowledge and tailored policies and regulations that have been tested in real world contexts,” said Mark Kenber, Executive Director of VCMI. “This guide provides policymakers with a transformational tool to drive innovation in carbon markets, while upholding environmental and social integrity through robust oversight. This can help EMDEs to accelerate credible climate finance solutions and position themselves as investment-ready sources of high-quality carbon credits.” 

The guide provides a step-by-step framework for designing and implementing regulatory sandboxes tailored to national legal and institutional contexts. It offers practical guidance on how to assess the impact and safety of innovations while managing risks, including through governance mechanisms, risk controls, stakeholder roles, and technical considerations.

“Innovation in the clean cooking sector is advancing rapidly, and regulatory clarity will be critical to unlocking investment,” said Dymphna van der Lans, CCA CEO. “Regulatory sandboxes give policymakers a practical way to test new approaches, build confidence, manage risk, and protect the integrity of carbon markets.”

“With many countries across Africa aiming to develop their carbon markets and become investment-ready, this guide offers timely and practical guidance to help financial institutions regulators develop carbon regulations that fit country contexts,” said Reshma Shah, Carbon Markets Lead at FSD Africa.

While the guide draws on practical experience from carbon markets linked to clean cooking and household energy access, it is intentionally designed for broad applicability across countries, technologies, and carbon market segments. It builds on previous work by CCA, including a report and policy brief on “Financial Regulatory Pathways for Scaling Carbon Markets.”  Collectively, these resources are guiding CCA’s ongoing support to regulators in Kenya, with similar efforts underway in Nigeria.

“Unlocking carbon finance is vital for climate resilience and sustainable development across West African countries and communities,” said Ousmane Fall Sarr, Coordinator of the West African Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance. “This resource  can help regulators build and test the necessary enabling conditions for market growth.”  

The “Regulatory Sandbox to Support Carbon Markets” guide is intended for:

• Capital markets authorities
• Financial regulators
• Central banks
• Climate finance innovators
• Carbon project developers
• Economic development partners 

The guide is now publicly available in English and will soon be available in French. 

Download the guide here. 

About the Clean Cooking Alliance
The Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) works with a global network of partners to build an inclusive industry that makes clean cooking accessible to the 2.1 billion people who live each day without it. Established in 2010, CCA is driving consumer demand, mobilizing investment to build a pipeline of scalable businesses, and fostering an enabling environment that allows the sector to thrive. Clean cooking transforms lives by improving health, protecting the climate and the environment, empowering women, and helping consumers save time and money.

About the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative

The Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) is an international non-profit committed to realizing the full potential of high-integrity voluntary carbon markets (VCMs). VCMI’s mission is to empower companies, governments, and non-state actors to maximize their climate impact through the use of high-quality carbon credits. 

The ‘Regulatory Sandbox to Support Carbon Markets’ guide was produced as part of VCMI’s Access Strategies Program, which supports host countries, regions, and sectors to participate in high-integrity carbon markets and unlock the environmental, social, and economic benefits of carbon finance within national climate plans. This program is instrumental in building the necessary infrastructure for countries to participate meaningfully in and benefit from the global carbon market. 

About FSD Africa

FSD Africa is a specialist development agency established in 2012 by the UK Government working to make finance work for Africa’s future. FSD Africa works on the ground in over 30 African countries to mobilise “green plus” finance that will power economic and social development while delivering environmental gains and building Africa’s resilience. FSD Africa works on policy and regulatory reform, capacity strengthening and improving financial infrastructure, and addressing systemic challenges in Africa’s financial markets to spark large-scale and long-term change.

The post New Guide Helps Policymakers Safely Test Carbon Market Innovations appeared first on VCMI.

26 February, London – A new playbook sets out steps to fill the gap for Africa-based validation and verification bodies and improve the efficiency of the continent’s carbon credit market and unlock socio-economic benefits. 

 Pathways for Strengthening Validation and Verification Body (VVB) Capacity in Africa highlights that Africa still relies on international VVBs and non-African auditors for more than 90 per cent of carbon project verification activities. Project developers estimate that between 10 and 50 per cent of total project delays and cost overruns are attributable to VVB bottlenecks. 

The report, produced by Perspectives Climate Group,​ ​​​​was commissioned by the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) for its Access Strategies program, and German Agency for International Cooperation, GIZ as part of its Global Carbon Market Project. The Eastern Africa Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance, and the West African Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance, have supported the report’s findings. 

Africa issued approximately 12.2 million carbon credits in 2024, with voluntary market issuance comparable to that of Asia. However, a lack of VVBs in Africa results in higher transaction costs and limited local ownership and economic benefits, while demand for carbon credits is expected to continue to rise. The report outlines that strengthening Africa’s VVB ecosystem would deliver a range of climate, economic and social benefits including reduced greenwashing risks, more green jobs and greater retention of the value of carbon markets within African economies. 

“Demand for validation and verification services is expected to rise significantly by 2030, as countries implement activities under the Paris Agreement’s Article 6 mechanisms and governments drive consistent guidance on corporate use of carbon credits as part of credible decarbonization plans,” said Mark Kenber, Executive Director of VCMI.

“Building Africa’s capacity to validate and verify emissions reductions through carbon credit projects is fundamental for fulfilling its potential to meet rising demand for high-integrity carbon credits and to ensure that the value of these services remains on the continent. The opportunity cost for the continent is considerable – without coordinated action to scale Africa-based VVB capacity, Africa risks losing out on approximately USD $ 1 billion of economic benefits over five years.” 

Despite strong potential, Africa’s carbon credit market, representing about 11 per cent of global issuance, has tapped only two per cent of its maximum capacity, the report finds. 

VVBs play a central role in carbon markets, providing independent assurance that emission reductions and removals are real, additional, permanent, and properly monitored. VVBs are therefore essential to the credibility of African credits for voluntary and compliance uses.  

“The supply of carbon credits in Africa has increased significantly in recent years, but it continues to represent a fraction of retirements globally,” said Andrew Ocama, Coordinator of the Eastern Africa Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance.  

“An understanding of local context is important for auditing community related projects, which form the majority of projects in Africa. This report is a welcome resource that will guide countries in Eastern Africa and beyond looking to bolster domestic audit infrastructure for high-integrity carbon markets and reduce reliance on international auditors.” 

The report authors call for a phased and coordinated approach, moving from rapid deployment of Africa-based auditors in the near-term to the establishment of durable African VVB institutions in the longer term, through accreditation and training pathways, targeted de-risking of private sector investment, and integration of digital monitoring, reporting and verification tools. 

“For Africa to fully participate in high-integrity carbon markets, it must build the systems and structures that underpin them. Validation and verification are core market infrastructure. Strengthening this capacity locally is essential for credibility, competitiveness, and climate sovereignty,” said Ritah Rukundo, Manager of the Global Carbon Market Project at GIZ. 

“This report clearly shows that addressing this gap and ensuring carbon markets deliver critical climate finance and wider economic and community benefits for Africa will require coordinated action across policy, institutions, workforce development, and financing.” 

The nine priority actions identified by the report include: 

1. Providing clear policy signals on the role of carbon markets in Nationally Determined Contribution implementation and embed VVB functions within national Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) frameworks.

2. Strengthening regional and national accreditation and training pipelines aligned with ISO standards and priority sectors in the African project pipeline.

3. Harmonizing regional training-to-accreditation pathways as a structural precondition for scaling with integrity, including mutual recognition where feasible.

4. Rapidly scaling Africa-based auditors’ engagement in VVB services for carbon market activities through co-auditing, mentorship, and permanent regional audit teams.

5. Improving and addressing auditor retention and career progression through demand-linked professional pathways.

6. Deploying targeted financial de-risking instruments to address accreditation costs, working capital needs, and early-stage risk.

7. Exploring durable domestic financing options such as allocating a share of proceeds from carbon levies to fund verification capacity, reducing dependency on short-term donor cycles, and aligning incentives for market credibility.

8. Integrating digital MRV tools as efficiency-enhancing complements within robust institutional and accreditation frameworks.

9. Embedding inclusivity pathways throughout all priority actions such as targeted outreach and scholarships for women and under-represented groups, multilingual materials and delivery, and deliberate representation of least developed countries and smaller markets within regional hubs.

“Africa’s rapidly growing carbon markets are constrained by a critical shortage of local validation and verification capacity. As demand for carbon credits increases, Africa’s reliance on international auditors leads to higher costs, delays and limited local value creation,” said Sergi Cuadrat, Managing Director for Carbon Markets at Perspectives Climate Group. 

“Beyond identifying practical pathways to strengthen VVB capacity, the report has informed the design of a strategic accelerator concept to translate evidence into implementation. The accelerator combines targeted policy coordination, accreditation training, supervised audit deployment and catalytic financial instruments to scale high-integrity, Africa-based VVB capacity. By addressing systemic bottlenecks rather than isolated skills gaps, it provides a credible roadmap to unlock private investment and strengthen institutional resilience across Africa.” 

​“Communities across West Africa stand to gain significantly from a mature and well-regulated carbon markets ecosystem. Building strong VVB capacity will not only create skilled green jobs, but also ensure high-integrity carbon projects are designed, implemented, and audited with African priorities at the forefront. This report sets out the critical actions required to scale VVB capacity and unlock the full climate and economic potential of carbon markets,” said Ousmane Fall Sarr, Coordinator of the West African Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance   

Ends 

About VCMI 

The Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) is an international non-profit organization with a mission to enable high-integrity voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) that deliver real and additional benefits to the atmosphere, help protect nature, and accelerate the transition to ambitious, economy-wide climate policies and regulation. 

https://vcmintegrity.org/ 

About GIZ 

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a German federal company with over 50 years of experience in technical cooperation across a broad range of areas, including economic development and employment promotion, energy, environment and climate change, and peace and security. GIZ works in partnership with various state and non-state actors, facilitating effective collaboration between development policy and other key areas. 

Through its Global Carbon Market (GCM) project, GIZ supports public sector decision-makers and the Private sector in designing and implementing high- integrity market-based instruments as part of their national climate strategies.  https://www.giz.de/en/projects/global-carbon-markets  

About Perspectives Climate Group 

Perspectives Climate Group GmbH (Perspectives) is an independent policy research and advisory group that provides practical solutions to private sector, governments, financial institutions and non-governmental organizations for domestic and international climate policies, international carbon markets and climate finance instruments.   

https://perspectives.cc/ 

The post New playbook offers guide to developing validation and verification bodies for Africa’s growing carbon market appeared first on VCMI.

NOVEMBER 20, BELÉM – A new guide to developing high-integrity carbon projects in the Brazilian Amazon has been launched to support quality nature-based solutions that attract higher prices, generating more finance for forest-based communities.

The Best Practice Guide for High-Integrity Carbon Projects in the Brazilian Amazon outlines approaches for ensuring the credibility and sustainability of carbon finance projects in line with the region’s ambitious targets and specific context and needs. 

The guide was developed with the governments of neighboring Amazonian states, Acre and Rondônia, as part of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative’s Access Strategies Program. Members of the guide’s working group included the Amazon Investor Coalition (AIC), Climate Focus, LACLIMA, and the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force (GCF Task Force).

Around 60 per cent of the Amazon rainforest lies within Brazil’s borders and plays a fundamental role in both global climate regulation and Brazil’s economy. Recent figures showed that deforestation fell to its lowest level for 11 years last year, with Rondônia and Acre in the top three states for reductions.

According to the World Bank, an estimated $7 billion a year is needed to conserve the Amazon but only $5.81 billion has been mobilized from 2013 to 2022.

“We see enormous potential for carbon finance projects, including REDD+, to deliver much-needed funding for the protection of our globally important forest and those who depend on it,” said Leonardo Carvalho, Secretary of Environment of Acre.

“But it is imperative that these projects are developed in line with state, federal and internationally recognized standards to ensure they have high integrity. This guide is an important resource for both project developers and investors.”

Acre’s accounting area covers the entire state, measuring 16.4 million hectares, which includes 7.7 million hectares in conservation units within the Amazon biome. As part of its implementation, Acre established legal and technical procedures to integrate private REDD+ projects and avoid double counting.

Rondônia, meanwhile, has a State Register of Emissions Reductions for registering carbon projects with methodologies approved by the Management Board of the State System of Climate Governance and Environmental Services (SGSA).

“By ensuring carbon projects meet rigorous, consistent, and transparent standards, Amazonian states can attract higher prices and ultimately unlock higher levels of finance,” said Diogo Martins Rosa, Director of Climate Governance, State Secretariat for Environmental Development of Rondônia (SEDAM-RO).

“This new guide ensures those that are entering the market for nature-based solutions in the Brazilian Amazon do so with the fullest understanding of our unique ecosystem.”

The guide covers aspects of carbon project development such as who can implement a carbon project in Brazil and under which conditions. It also provides guidance for engaging with the Brazilian Emissions Trading System (SBCE) and resolutions of Brazil’s National Commission for REDD+.

In addition, the guide sets out the importance of land rights for the validity of carbon credits and best practices for ensuring free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) from Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities as well as the fair and equitable distribution of benefits.

Ana Carolina Avzaradel Szklo, Technical Director for Markets and Standards at VCMI, which produced the guide in partnership with AIC, said: “High-integrity carbon finance projects can support Amazon states to meet ambitious targets for conservation and sustain thriving forest-based economies and communities.

“This guide shows the importance of high-integrity approaches that reflect the needs and realities of local Amazonian communities. It sets out the vital role that social safeguards and the centering of traditional communities play in environmental preservation. The key principles laid out in the guide will inform investors and developers of carbon finance projects, and can provide a reference point for other Amazon states and countries. The development of high-quality projects, grounded in local context, will attract the investments that are needed to support the conservation and restoration of nature in the Amazon.”

The State Secretariats of Environment of Acre and Rondônia were consulted throughout the drafting process and endorse the guide. Specific recommendations on facilitating access to climate finance for Amazonian states were received from the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force (GCFTF) Secretariat. 

The publication follows an increasing trend of governments providing clear steers to investors and project developers on what best practice looks like in priority sectors where they believe carbon finance can improve climate, nature, and sustainable development outcomes. Earlier this year, for example, the government of Yucatan in Mexico published a best practices guide, and more recently, at the Africa Climate Summit, a regional alliance of seven governments in East Africa published a manual for developing nature-based carbon projects in Eastern Africa. 

Brazil, which is hosting this year’s COP30 climate talks in the Amazonian city of Belém, plays a leading role in carbon markets worldwide. The country accounts for more than a quarter of South America’s total carbon credits and approximately six per cent of the global market.

Brazil’s contribution is especially prominent in nature-based solutions (NbS), generating 12 per cent of all global NbS credits and nearly a quarter of those issued regionally. The majority of NbS credits come from Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) projects.

“Providing a clear framework for high-integrity carbon finance projects is fundamental for generating increased demand from buyers and in turn, greater levels of investment,” said Ana Beatriz Freitas, Head of Payments for Environmental Services at the Amazon Investor Coalition (AIC).

“This new guide makes clear the expectations of REDD+ projects and other nature-based solutions, allowing investors to have more confidence in the quality of the market.” 

Ends 

About VCMI 

The Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) is an international non-profit organization with a mission to enable high-integrity voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) that deliver real and additional benefits to the atmosphere, help protect nature, and accelerate the transition to ambitious, economy-wide climate policies and regulation. 

https://vcmintegrity.org/

The post New guide launched during COP30 sets out best practices for high-integrity carbon projects in Brazilian Amazon appeared first on VCMI.

“This marks a pivotal step in restoring climate equity. High-integrity carbon markets have the potential to unlock billions in private finance, precisely the scale of investment needed by climate-vulnerable nations. Therefore, it is essential to empower these nations to leverage carbon markets effectively to close the climate finance gap,” H.E. Mohamed Nasheed, CVF-V20 Secretary-General and former President of the Maldives, said. 

Launched in June 2024, the Carbon Finance Program supports CVF-V20 member countries to leverage high-integrity voluntary carbon markets to finance their Climate Prosperity Plans—multi-phase national strategies for investment and technology access designed to transform climate risks into bankable opportunities. The program has already provided policy guidance and capacity building on carbon markets including in Benin and Kenya. 

The partnership identifies carbon markets as one of several key levers to help unlock an additional US$20 billion in annual financing for V20 countries, which can be used to support the implementation of Climate Prosperity Plans, boost nature-based solution investments, strengthen climate resilience, and advance broader sustainable development goals. 

To enhance V20 nations’ access to these fiscal revenues, the Carbon Finance Program will be scaled to reach more countries and broaden technical support. The announcement was made during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, a month before COP30, where carbon markets, including the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, are expected to be high on the agenda. 

“For too long, the architecture of international climate finance has marginalised those on the frontlines of the climate crisis. This expanded Carbon Finance Program aims to reverse that paradigm—empowering climate-vulnerable nations which have the natural resources to actively participate in high-integrity carbon markets, uphold their agency, and fully capture the benefits they deserve. This is critical as we note that there is still a significant gap in the ability of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Barbados to reap the benefits from these instruments since many SIDS do not have the scale of terrestrial natural capital like forests, and efforts related to marine carbon dioxide removal (Blue Carbon) remain difficult due to inherent challenges in pursuing conservation and restoration in the marine space, paired with lower levels of access to finance for these projects.” H.E. The Most Honorable Elizabeth Thompson, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Climate Change, Small Island States (SIDS) & Law of the Sea, Barbados and Sherpa to Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, S.C. M.P., Chair of the CVF-V20, explained. 

By enabling vulnerable countries to leverage their natural wealth and climate potential, the program fosters resilience, accelerates sustainable growth, and promotes both climate justice and shared prosperity. Through the Carbon Finance Program, V20 nations will gain access to tailored guidance that aligns with their specific needs, priorities, and strategic goals. This strengthened partnership will also empower climate-vulnerable countries to advance the development and implementation of robust climate finance strategies and policy frameworks through high-integrity carbon markets. 

The Carbon Finance Program extends its support to climate-vulnerable countries through 2028, offering policy advice, carbon credit transaction support, climate finance mechanisms, and measures to aggregate demand across voluntary, compliance, and Article 6 markets. 

“The world cannot achieve its climate targets without dramatically scaling up flows of finance to climate vulnerable nations, which are home to many of the world’s natural carbon sinks as well as being ripe for climate-positive innovation and prosperity. As carbon markets grow, it is vital that climate vulnerable nations are supported to leverage these channels of finance to support domestic priorities and global goals, and I am delighted that the VCMI and CVF-V20 Carbon Finance Program has been launched to deliver expert support to CVF-V20 member states,” said Usha Rao-Monari, VCMI Steering Committee Chair and former Under-Secretary General to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The expansion of the Program is a crucial step toward building the in-country capacity and expertise of V20 nations to effectively harness growing carbon markets in support of national priorities and global climate goals. 

*** 

About CVF-V20 

The CVF-V20 represents 74 member-countries from small island developing states (SIDS), least developed countries (LDCs), low-to-middle income countries (LMICs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS). Working together, the CVF-V20 aims to achieve climate justice through the realization of Climate Prosperity Plans, which contain ambitious economic and financial resilience strategies designed to attract investment and resources that advance the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 30×30 Global Biodiversity, and help keep the average global temperatures to the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C safety threshold.

The post Carbon Finance Program upscales efforts to close climate investment gap in climate vulnerable nations appeared first on VCMI.

The guide is being produced by VCMI and the Amazon Investor Coalition in partnership with the governments of the Brazilian states of Acre and Rondônia to inform their engagement with private sector actors in high-integrity carbon markets. The Guide is being delivered in collaboration with Climate Focus and LACLIMA and will benefit from additional support from the Governors’ Climate & Forests Task Force (GCF-TF).

The Amazon rainforest, home to 10% of all known species and a key regulator of the global climate, is critically endangered. Roughly one-third of its forests have been lost or degraded, threatening biodiversity, global rainfall patterns, and the livelihoods of millions of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs).

The neighboring states of Acre and Rondônia hold significant potential for scaling up high-integrity carbon markets as a tool for community-based conservation.

A new guide to support project developers in the Amazon

As part of VCMI’s Access Strategies Program, which supports governments in emerging markets and developing economies to engage effectively in high-integrity carbon markets, this project will produce by COP30 a comprehensive Best Practices Guide to facilitate carbon market readiness in the Amazon, considering subnational particularities.

The Guide will equip project developers, investors, carbon credit buyers, and civil society organization leaders with clear, accessible, state government-backed guidance on meeting environmental and social safeguards, navigating legal context and land tenure challenges, upholding Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and ensuring fair benefit-sharing.

The Guide will also clarify how projects can align with state-level jurisdictional programs to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), international best practice to safeguard environmental integrity, and regulatory requirements to unlock demand through Brazil’s emerging Emissions Trading System.

Opportunity for impact

Carbon markets hold enormous potential to channel private sector finance toward forest conservation, restoration, and sustainable land use. But in the Amazon, unclear land rights, legal risks, and concerns over community safeguards present challenges. Poorly designed carbon projects risk undermining trust, jeopardizing community livelihoods, and weakening climate credibility. At the same time, the concept of climate responsibility is not limited to the carbon credit supply chain and includes standard managers, technicians, the scientific community, regulatory support organizations, as well as demand-side stakeholders such as corporate buyers, investors, and financial institutions, in such a way that climate financing can be enabled to address the current climate emergency.

By providing practical, region-specific tools, the new Guide will help ensure project developers uphold environmental and social integrity while building confidence among investors and communities. It will also enable sub-national governments in the Brazilian Amazon to strategically leverage carbon markets to meet their policy priorities for climate, nature and sustainable development.

This collaboration is essential to mobilizing the scale of finance needed to protect the Amazon and accelerate Brazil’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

Supporting Quotes

“As we build towards COP30 in Belem, all eyes are on the need to protect the Amazon’s critical role in the health of our planet. Carbon markets have an important role to play, and businesses, sub-national governments, and communities in the Amazon need to be able to unlock this potential on their own terms, in line with international best practice.

“This Guide will equip project developers in Amazonian states with the practical tools and government-backed guidance they need to build high-integrity nature-based carbon projects that can deliver a meaningful impact on the climate and support local livelihoods.”  – Ana Carolina Szklo, Technical Director, VCMI

“This Guide will address a critical information gap essential to strengthening an integrity-centered ecosystem for the implementation of carbon markets in the Amazon. By providing clear guidance, it will enhance the robustness and reliability available to investors and buyers, enabling them to confidently support projects that truly deliver positive socio-ecological impacts.” – Ana Beatriz Freitas, Head of Payments for Environmental Services, AIC

“Private projects must view the principles of high integrity as an opportunity, not as a burden, to elevate their initiatives to a higher level. This ensures recognition of their effective contribution to subnational, national and international climate goals, while also adding value to a market driven by a strong desire for integrity and compliance. It is vital to emphasize the importance of these projects within an integrated strategy, calling them to take responsibility for emissions reduction goals and enhancing the value of the assets they aim to promote.” – Leonardo Carvalho, Secretary of Environment of Acre

“This Guide will reinforce the importance of aligning public policies — at the state, national, and international levels — with global best practices, ensuring the implementation of effective safeguards, robust monitoring systems, and fair benefit-sharing mechanisms. This initiative strengthens the trust of communities, investors, and governments, ensuring that carbon credits represent real emission reductions and contribute concretely to forest conservation and sustainable development.” – Diogo Martins Rosa, Director of Climate Governance, State Secretariat for Environmental Development of Rondônia (SEDAM-RO)

“For over a decade, the states of the Brazilian Amazon have been working on building strategies to access climate financing, focusing on the provision of high-integrity carbon credits. This commitment is reflected in the adoption of rigorous Policies for emission reduction, forest stock conservation, and the recognition of the contributions and roles of Indigenous peoples and traditional communities. It acknowledges that a sufficient flow of resources is not only essential to achieving reductions but also to enabling environmental, economic, and social investments, fostering a virtuous cycle of long-term development.” – Carlos Aragon, Governors’ Climate & Forests Task Force Director for Brazil

The post New Collaboration to Strengthen High-Quality Carbon Projects in the Brazilian Amazon appeared first on VCMI.

The Carbon Markets Access Toolkit provides a step-by-step guide for governments to decide whether and how to engage with regulated and voluntary carbon markets, as well as those facilitated under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Developing countries need an estimated $2.7 trillion annually by 2030 to fund their climate and nature-related goals, with $1.3 trillion needed in international support.

The toolkit addresses key decision points, including if and when to enter carbon markets, how to use them to finance national climate and development strategies and develop a strategy for Article 6, how to address legal and institutional considerations, and how to host high-quality carbon projects.

Only 15 per cent of global climate finance reached emerging markets and developing economies, excluding China, in 2022. According to the World Bank, carbon markets could halve the cost of implementing national climate strategies, and for Africa alone, voluntary carbon markets could reach an estimated USD 1.5 trillion by 2050.

However, emerging markets and developing economies struggle to leverage carbon markets at present because developing the necessary policy and infrastructure requires specialized knowledge and tailored resources, among other barriers.

“Emerging markets and developing economies urgently need finance to support climate-positive growth and drive the global transition to net zero,” said Mark Kenber, Executive Director of VCMI.

“Carbon markets provide significant opportunities for governments to channel international private sector finance towards national and global climate goals by leveraging new sources of capital, technology and skills. However, their complexity often presents a major barrier to participation and reduces the potentially transformative impact they can have.

“This toolkit provides a clear and comprehensive roadmap for governments to determine the most appropriate level and type of engagement according to their national circumstances and priorities and so ensure that carbon market activities deliver truly transformational outcomes.”

The toolkit, which is available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, was produced by the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) in partnership with Climate Focus and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), as part of VCMI’s Access Strategies Program. It aims to help policymakers identify how to participate meaningfully in carbon markets and access carbon finance to help fund climate plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Nature-based carbon credits that go beyond emissions reductions can also help countries value their natural resources and protect biodiversity.

“Navigating carbon markets is complex and constantly evolving,” said Leticia Guimarães, Head, Carbon Markets, UNDP.

“Informed policymakers are better positioned to make strategic decisions on how their countries can engage with carbon markets to unlock private finance and advance climate and development goals. Resources like the Carbon Markets Access Toolkit provide the clarity and support needed to guide these decisions in alignment with national priorities.”

Modeling suggests that global carbon credit markets could be worth up to $35 billion by 2030. This finance in turn could generate up to seven times as much impact in terms of additional investment, technology transfer and community benefit.

“Governments in emerging markets and developing economies have a unique opportunity to harness the catalytic power of high-integrity carbon markets to unlock debt-free climate finance,” said Amy Merrill, CEO, Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM).

“VCMI’s updated Carbon Markets Access Toolkit is a vital resource to help countries strategically engage with carbon markets, align with Article 6, and deliver on their climate and sustainable development goals, while ensuring integrity through the Integrity Council’s Core Carbon Principles.”

VCMI launched its Access Strategies Program in 2021 to provide tailored technical assistance, policy support and capacity-building to governments around the world. Each Access Strategies project is designed and implemented in response to locally identified needs and delivered with local partners.

“Carbon finance holds immense potential as a building block to advance national economic resilience, social equity, climate action, and biodiversity prosperity, all while unlocking new streams of capital for countries facing the deepest climate funding gaps and the greatest climate vulnerability,” said H.E. Mohamed Nasheed, Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and former President of Maldives.

According to a new independent evaluation report, written by Arden Climate (formerly Pollination Law), the program has supported governments across the Global South to access carbon markets through a total of 20 projects, including national initiatives in Benin, Brazil, India, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, and Peru.

For example, VCMI worked with Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) to raise awareness and capacity among agriculture ministers across Latin America to tap into the potential for mitigation and carbon finance in agriculture. This led to the creation of the Partnership for Agricultural Carbon (PAC) to provide ongoing support to agricultural ministries and the agriculture community across the region.

In Mexico, VCMI supported the government of Yucatán to address concerns over the unfair treatment of local communities in voluntary carbon market projects. Through engagement with Indigenous communities, the program developed a state roadmap and best practice guide for engaging with carbon markets and hosted six workshops to reach local communities, policymakers and project developers.

And in Benin, the Access Strategies program supported the development of a decision matrix tool to guide the government’s evaluation and approval of carbon projects for Article 6 and VCMs. The country has identified an investment gap of €10 billion (approximately $11.3 billion) by 2030 to fund its climate goals.

“As a country committed to climate action and sustainable growth, Panama recognizes the critical role of voluntary carbon markets in closing the $2.7 trillion annual climate finance gap,” said Oscar Vallarino, Deputy Minister of the Environment, Panama.

“VCMI’s Carbon Markets Access Toolkit provides the strategic framework that countries like Panama need to participate meaningfully in carbon markets. This tool addresses key decision points: when to enter carbon markets, how to use them to finance national climate strategies, and how to develop an Article 6. As countries develop financing strategies to achieve their nationally determined contributions ahead of COP30, we recommend to adopt this strategic approach for a more sustainable future.” 

The post Updated Carbon Markets Access Toolkit provides dedicated support for governments appeared first on VCMI.

The report, A Confident Carbon Market: Business Perspectives, reveals that there is latent demand for carbon credits from businesses across sectors and geographies, but that concerns about quality, integrity, and reputational risks, along with a lack of clarity amongst regulatory and voluntary climate initiatives, are holding businesses back from investing. The result is that participation in carbon markets has stalled at a time when increased flows of climate finance are urgently needed to help close the $1.3 trillion climate finance gap. 

The research reveals that businesses need clear, aligned, and stable rules on how and when to use carbon credits to scale engagement and create a confident carbon market. Businesses stress that developing a 10-25-year investment strategy is challenging if there is no confidence in what rules will still be relevant by 2040, or even 2030.  

Commenting on what the research reveals about the state of play in carbon markets today, Mark Kenber, Executive Director of VCMI, said: “Significant strides have been made in addressing integrity gaps, including the work of both VCMI and ICVCM, but we now need confidence and investment to flow back into carbon markets. To achieve that, governments and voluntary frameworks for corporate climate action must redouble efforts towards increasing business participation. Carbon markets can and must complement corporate value chain decarbonization efforts if we are to reach our global climate goals. To unlock this action, businesses need clear rules aligned across regulations and voluntary commitments – that is the strong message from this research.” 

Governments and voluntary initiatives have an important role to play in creating the enabling environment for a confident carbon market. Whether regulatory or voluntary, clear rules, including direct requirements, were seen by businesses as critical for justifying investment in the market, especially to internal stakeholders. 

Reflecting on the findings, Philippe Varin, Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), said “Businesses are keen to scale up their support for voluntary carbon markets, not only for meeting climate targets but also for important co-benefits, such as social impact and biodiversity conservation.  

“But businesses also need to confidently make the case for investing in carbon markets. Clearer guidance on how and when to use carbon credits would create a positive feedback loop —  to build greater confidence and drive business engagement in high-integrity carbon markets.”  

Businesses say examples of poor practice coupled with media scrutiny and public scepticism have contributed to a decline in market trust, and a weakened business case for participation. Carbon credit use is no longer seen to significantly enhance brand reputation, and carbon credit quality remains a top concern. 

However, businesses recognize ‘making progress towards climate goals’ as the top opportunity of carbon market participation. Alongside the introduction of clear, aligned, and stable rules on how and when to use carbon markets, businesses also called for clearer frameworks and stronger assurances that credits will deliver measurable and enduring climate benefits, as well as clear endorsements from governments, NGOs, and standard setters, and collective action from peers, to build business confidence to act now, not later. 

The research is based on a qualitative, in-depth study involving more than 65 businesses, 20 experts, and 60 market reports to explore perceptions, barriers, and opportunities around carbon market participation. ICC and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) supported the research by reaching out to businesses in their networks to promote participation in the focus groups to ensure strong cross-sectoral and global engagement.  

“This report found continued appetite among the business community for high-integrity carbon markets to deliver much-needed climate finance, but businesses need clear, stable and aligned guidance to unlock greater participation. In addition, businesses also need a supportive environment that recognizes and endorses early adopters of high-integrity carbon markets to build confidence and encourage collective action at the scale needed,” said Jon Williams, Global Financial Services Lead for Sustainability Services and UK, Ireland & Africa Sustainability Services Lead, Accenture. 

Peter Bakker, President of WBCSD, said, “This new report from VCMI reinforces the findings of WBCSD’s 2025 Business Breakthrough Barometer. It is no longer a question of ‘if’ businesses will move to decarbonize their operations, but rather ‘how’.  Many sectors are already working hard to decarbonize their supply chains, and carbon markets play a vital role to complement these efforts in the near-term. However, to fulfil this potential, clear and business-aligned guidance is critical. This report offers valuable insights as to how this can be delivered.” 

The research indicates that businesses see carbon markets as a critical tool to deliver climate action. The full report details the main barriers faced by companies seeking to engage in the market, along with actionable insights on what is needed next to give businesses the confidence to invest.  

Leading governments are already taking action: The Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets, led by the governments of Kenya, Singapore, and the UK and launched at London Climate Action Week in June 2025, brings together ambitious governments committed to advancing climate action through credible business use of high-integrity carbon credits alongside deep corporate decarbonization.  

To find out more about the report, join an in-depth exploration of the findings by signing up to the launch webinar. The webinar will feature insights and expertise from VCMI, Accenture, ICC and WBCSD.  

— ENDS– 

Notes to editor 

• VCMI commissioned Accenture to deliver a qualitative, in-depth research study involving more than 65 businesses, 20 experts, and 60 market reports to explore perceptions, barriers, and opportunities around carbon market participation. 

• The findings, interpretations, recommendations, and conclusions expressed in the report are a result of a collaborative process facilitated and endorsed by VCMI and Accenture, but whose results do not necessarily represent the views of VCMI and Accenture.

• ICC and WBCSD – including the Natural Climate Solutions Alliance (NCSA) – supported the research by reaching out to businesses in their networks to promote participation in the focus groups to ensure strong cross-sectoral and global engagement. 

The post What will it take to create a confident carbon market? New research reveals what businesses need to make the case for investment appeared first on VCMI.

A thriving carbon market will unlock finance to support the decarbonisation and sustainable development agendas of Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs), which is critical to meeting global climate goals.

The Coalition comprises ambitious governments committed to advancing climate action through credible business use of high-integrity carbon credits alongside deep corporate decarbonisation. The Coalition is co-chaired by Ali Mohamed, Kenya Special Climate Envoy; Ravi Menon, Singapore Ambassador for Climate Action; and Rachel Kyte, UK Special Representative for Climate.

France and Panama are founding members of this coalition of ambitious governments committed to advancing climate action through the credible use of high-integrity carbon credits. The Coalition will expand over the coming months to include countries which are sources of demand for carbon credits as well as countries which are sources of supply of credits. The Government of Peru has already endorsed the Coalition’s mission, recognising the critical role of carbon markets and corporate use of carbon credits in delivering climate-positive growth globally.

By COP30, the Coalition will deliver its first results by issuing a clear set of shared principles on the voluntary use of high-integrity carbon credits by businesses to provide consistency in approach across jurisdictions. This is in response to calls from businesses for greater clarity from governments on the use of carbon credits as part of corporate decarbonisation plans. The shared principles will give businesses the confidence and incentives they need to invest in a proven but underused climate financing tool and continue to strengthen and scale carbon markets. The Coalition will work closely with businesses, so that policies and incentives better respond to business needs.

The principles will help to grow demand for high-integrity carbon credits, thereby helping to increase the flow of climate finance to EMDEs, by better reflecting the true value of emissions reductions and removals being delivered. This will boost investment in climate-positive businesses, sustainable development and projects such as sustainable agriculture, clean energy, as well as nature conservation and restoration.

The Coalition represents a bold new approach to mobilising essential private sector investment to help close the USD$1.3 trillion climate finance gap without adding to the debt burden. By boosting demand for high-integrity credits, the market could expand to as much as USD$250 billion by 2050 in direct and leveraged finance to support climate action globally.

This move has also been welcomed by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) as a response to calls from business for more cohesion and transparency, and stronger, clearer incentives to engage with carbon markets. The ICC and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) will be partners to the Coalition, playing a critical role to ensure that its work is informed by the needs, experiences and ambitions of global business.

In addition, the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM), an independent governance body which sets the global quality threshold for the supply of credits in the voluntary carbon market through the Core Carbon Principles, is also working with the Coalition to support seamless alignment between the demand and supply sides of the market.

Carbon markets direct finance to projects that can cut emissions faster and at lower cost. This helps modernise industries, cuts pollution, creates employment opportunities, and delivers lasting benefits for local communities and ecosystems. But reputational and legal risks, concerns about integrity of supply, and lack of consistent guidance have stopped companies from buying credits, even though they recognise the opportunity they offer to deliver more rapid climate action at scale.

The Coalition will build on the progress made on Article 6 at COP29, and high-integrity supply frameworks such as the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM)’s Core Carbon Principles starting to shape the market. There is a clear role for Governments now to align, through the Coalition, to support a level playing field and the high-integrity scaling of voluntary market use.

Learn more about the Coalition

QUOTES  

“To help unlock private sector finance at the scale and pace needed to support global climate ambitions, we must energise the carbon markets. This Coalition will help foster investor and stakeholder confidence, and strengthen the integrity and interoperability of these markets while delivering real emissions reductions. Singapore will play a meaningful role in catalysing the development of the voluntary carbon market as a financial and services hub, and through our investments in impactful decarbonisation projects globally,” said Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, Singapore.

“The UK is championing the responsible use of carbon credits by taking action to spearhead global efforts to raise integrity, supporting UK businesses to grow these markets and delivering growth through the Plan for Change. Through this new Coalition, we’re giving businesses the clarity they need to invest in high-integrity credits that drive real impact for climate and nature, unlocking carbon markets as a trusted tool in accelerating towards net zero,” said Kerry McCarthy MP, Minister for Climate, UK Government.

“Kenya’s leadership in this Coalition reflects our commitment to transforming how climate finance reaches developing nations. By boosting demand for high-integrity credits, the market could expand to as much as $250 billion by 2050 in direct and leveraged finance, supporting global climate action, particularly through transformative projects in developing countries.” said Ali Mohamed, Kenya Special Climate Envoy and Co-Chair of the Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets.

“This new Coalition is a welcome response to the clear call from the global business community to bring clarity, build confidence and integrity for carbon credit buyers, and to scale incentives that reward real climate action. 

High-integrity carbon markets are a vital—but still underused—tool in our climate arsenal. When done right, they empower businesses to cut emissions faster, invest at scale, and accelerate the global transition to net zero. 

Today’s announcement is more than a policy signal—it’s a commitment to action. We commend this leadership and stand ready to support this Coalition in unlocking the full potential of carbon markets for people, planet, and prosperity,” said Philippe Varin, Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). 

“I am glad to announce that France is officially joining the Coalition launched by the governments of Kenya, Singapore and the UK to support the development of robust, credible and effective carbon markets. 

This commitment is consistent with France’s long-standing leadership on climate action and advocacy for high-integrity carbon markets, which present an untapped potential to increase corporate action and mobilize climate finance where it is most cost effective. 

As a Coalition, we can send a clear message to the market and bring the needed clarity and confidence for investors. We are looking forward to working in partnership with other governments to unlock the full potential of carbon markets,” said Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister of Ecological Transition, Government of France. 

“I welcome this effort to provide greater clarity from governments on corporate use of carbon credits to increase climate action. Social and environmental integrity standards of carbon markets are vital to ensure the public trust in this important instrument. Therefore, political leadership is critical to building confidence and ambition, and we welcome this signal of cooperation,” said Ana Toni, CEO of COP30.

“The Ministry of Environment of Peru supports the Coalition’s effort to foster a carbon market environment where integrity and high standards are valued and recognized. We need to facilitate greater financial flows towards mitigation activities and sustainable development, and we see this as a promising foundation for strengthening global partnerships,” said Racquel Soto, Vice Minister of Strategic Development of Natural Resources, Government of Peru.

Notes to editors  

The Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets is supported by a Secretariat hosted by VCMI. The Secretariat provides technical, administrative and logistical support to Co-Chairs and the Coalition activities. VCMI has established guidance on best practice voluntary use of carbon credits by business as part of corporate decarbonization plans.

For media enquiries, please contact VCMCoalition@fgsglobal.com

The post First-of-its-kind government coalition to issue shared principles on carbon credit use by COP30 to boost climate finance appeared first on VCMI.

The guidance will support countries in the development of carbon markets strategies, bringing together the expertise of leading international technical assistance partners. Alongside the document, an infographic has been developed to clarify and visualize how each organization’s efforts come together to support countries. 

Carbon markets can support emerging markets and developing economies to access finance for mitigation activities, sustainable development and climate positive growth. This will help to meet the $1.3 trillion climate finance target, which is vital for achieving global climate goals. 

The guidance, structured in seven themes, provides support for navigating key policy choices—from whether and how to authorize credits, to how credits can be used and what institutional systems are needed to support implementation. The guidance is the result of a unique collaboration among leading international institutions intended to reduce fragmentation of technical assistance for navigating carbon markets.  

The initiative is a response to calls from countries to reduce the fragmentation of technical assistance, and support the development of coherent and well-informed strategies for engaging in international carbon markets. This set of guidance documents was the result of a joint effort between: the Article 6 Implementation Partnership (A6IP), the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI), and the World Bank.  

On how the guidance helps to streamline technical assistance, VCMI’s Technical Director, Ana Carolina Avzaradel Szklo, said: “Carbon markets can deliver significant benefits for the planet and for people, especially in emerging markets and developing economies, but ensuring impact requires countries to navigate a complex, evolving landscape. The plethora of capacity building initiatives designed to support countries in this endeavour has at times led to confusion rather than clarity. This document provides a critical starting point for country-led carbon markets strategies by bringing together the expertise and experience of organizations committed to working together to support countries to design, implement and participate in high-integrity carbon markets.” 

The guidance was launched at the World Bank’s annual Innovate4Climate event in Seville, with a workshop enabling discussion between partners and country representatives on the challenges of developing a carbon market strategy and opportunities to use carbon markets to raise the ambition of climate goals and optimize co-benefits. Mark Kenber, Executive Director of VCMI, moderated the discussion.  

VCMI’s Access Strategies Program is one of the critical capacity building initiatives that host countries and regions can engage with to support the development of carbon market strategies that unlock the environmental, social and economic benefits of carbon finance within national climate plans. VCMI has worked across the world, from Peru to Kenya to India, to support the development of the policies, capacity and infrastructure needed to create thriving carbon markets. This work helps to unlock finance needed for nature preservation, the clean energy transition, and climate resilient agriculture, among other priorities, in support of low-carbon sustainable development.  

— ENDS —

Guidance Note: Country Guidance for Navigating Carbon Markets

Infographic: A harmonized approach to technical assistance for navigating carbon markets

The post Countries to benefit from streamlined technical assistance for carbon markets participation appeared first on VCMI.

This announcement closely follows the second annual Kenya Carbon Markets Conference, co-organized by the Government of Kenya, VCMI, CCA, FSD Kenya, and FSD Africa, where over 200 stakeholders from across government, finance, civil society, and the private sector came together to unlock Kenya’s carbon market potential.

Carbon finance as a solution to clean cooking challenges

Currently, approximately 1 billion people in Africa do not have access to clean cooking solutions and instead rely on inefficient and polluting biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal to cook their daily meals. While Kenya has significantly improved access to clean cooking solutions over the past decade—up to 30% of its population in 2023 from 10% in 2010—millions of households still rely on polluting fuels such as firewood, charcoal, and kerosene.[i]

Clean cooking remains one of the most under-invested development challenges in the world. Carbon finance offers a critical source of capital to fill this gap, reducing how much consumers pay for clean cooking solutions and making them more accessible to low-income families who need them the most.

Partnership objectives

As part of VCMI’s Access Strategies program, this partnership with CCA will support financial market regulators to develop a framework that makes it easier to assess and prioritize which interventions could improve the integration of carbon-backed assets into mainstream finance – boosting carbon finance from clean cooking. The project intends to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including but not limited to the Central Bank of Kenya, the Capital Markets Authority, the Insurance Regulatory Authority, the Kenya Bankers Association, and commercial banks.

Scaling up carbon finance for clean cooking and other projects has long been constrained by a lack of supportive regulatory frameworks, as well as concerns over project quality. This lack of clarity has stalled urgently needed government action, limiting the role that high-quality carbon credits can play in financing. At the same time, domestic banks, insurers, and capital market institutions have often faced barriers such as limited capacity and unclear risk, which have hindered their engagement in carbon markets.

Central banks and financial regulators are uniquely positioned to change this scenario – and thus align domestic financing with climate priorities – by providing clear, consistent regulatory guidance on carbon finance. This is precisely the process that VCMI and CCA aim to support through their new partnership.

“Unlocking the true potential of carbon markets requires more than just demand — it requires trust, transparency, and regulatory clarity,” said Feisal Hussain, Senior Director of Innovative Finance at CCA. “By working with financial regulators and institutions, we aim to turn carbon credits into widely accepted and trusted bankable assets that can help scale up clean cooking access across Africa. Kenya is leading the way in many regards, and we hope this model can inspire broader financial innovation across the continent.”

“VCMI is pleased to partner with the Clean Cooking Alliance to support the scale up of high-integrity clean cooking carbon market projects by advancing financial policy guidance that enables domestic financial institutions and the private sector to engage in carbon markets with confidence. When operated with integrity, these projects improve the livelihoods of Kenyans, drive real climate impact and contribute towards sustainable development goals—serving as a model for other countries to follow,” said at Bianca Gichangi, Regional Lead for Africa at VCMI.

Advancing high-integrity carbon markets

This work is informed by a policy brief, recently published by CCA, identifying 15 targeted interventions that financial regulators can take to increase the recognition and use of carbon credits within financial systems. It also builds on previous collaborative works like the Buyer’s Guide to High-Quality Cookstove Carbon Credits, which complements VCMI’s Claims Code of Practice by helping buyers understand how to responsibly engage in the clean cooking sector.

This partnership lays a critical foundation by guiding regulators toward actionable, high-impact interventions. By working closely with the Government of Kenya, this partnership will continue the country’s leadership in the global carbon market as a provider of high-quality carbon credits that not only deliver climate benefits but also respect and strengthen the rights and livelihoods of local communities, ensuring that carbon markets are inclusive, transparent, and deliver tangible, lasting value for local actors.

-ENDS-

The Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) is an international non-profit committed to realizing the full potential of high-integrity voluntary carbon markets (VCMs). Our mission is to empower companies, governments, and non-state actors to maximize the impact of their climate actions through the use of high-quality carbon credits.

VCMI’s Codes of Practice provide rigorous, science-aligned guidance for organizations to take credible and transparent climate action using high-quality carbon credits, enabling them to align their climate transition plans with accelerating progress to global net zero.

Through our Access Strategies Program, VCMI supports host countries, regions, and sectors to participate in high-integrity carbon markets and unlock the environmental, social, and economic benefits of carbon finance within national climate plans. This program is instrumental in building the necessary infrastructure for countries to participate meaningfully and benefit from the global carbon market.

At VCMI, we are committed to integrity, transparency, and impact, ensuring that every carbon credit used contributes to real, verifiable climate progress.

vcmintegrity.org

The Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) works with a global network of partners to build an inclusive industry that makes clean cooking accessible to the 2.1 billion people who live each day without it. Established in 2010, CCA is driving consumer demand, mobilizing investment to build a pipeline of scalable businesses, and fostering an enabling environment that allows the sector to thrive. Clean cooking transforms lives by improving health, protecting the climate and the environment, empowering women, and helping consumers save time and money.

CleanCooking.org

[i] IEA, 2025

The post VCMI and Clean Cooking Alliance Partner to Strengthen Carbon Market Regulations in Kenya appeared first on VCMI.

The partnership was formally launched during UNFCCC Climate Week 2025, hosted in Panama City, where VCMI, the Partnership for Agricultural Carbon (PAC) and Panama’s Ministry of Environment (MINAM) co-hosted the event “Unlocking Carbon Market Opportunities in Latin America for Agriculture and Nature-Based Solutions on the Road to COP30.”

This session took place on the main stage of the Nature Summit, bringing together ministers, technical experts, leaders from the agriculture community, investors, and other stakeholders to explore how accelerated carbon finance flows across the region can support the scaling of nature-based solutions and sustainable agriculture systems.

“We are delighted to collaborate with the Government of Panama to demonstrate how carbon markets—when designed and governed with integrity—can be a powerful tool for financing sustainable development, protecting nature, and supporting local communities,” said Mark Kenber, Executive Director of VCMI.

Panama is located in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, covered 60% by forest, and is committed to delivering real-world climate action through high-integrity carbon markets. Through the partnership, VCMI is providing in-house support to the Ministry of Environment through the hiring of two regional experts who will:

· Support the design of robust, transparent carbon market governance aligned with global best practice and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement

· Ensure the market is strategically aligned with the domestic policy landscape and can be scaled up over time

· Facilitate knowledge exchange, capacity building, and engagement with local stakeholders to ensure the market works for people and planet.

Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez, Special Representative for Climate Change & National Climate Change Director of the Ministry of Environment of Panama, said: “Panama is committed to leading by example in building a carbon market that delivers real climate action, respects nature, and benefits our people. This partnership with VCMI supports our ambition to develop a high-integrity framework that attracts international investment while safeguarding environmental and social integrity. Looking ahead to COP30, we see carbon markets scaling up as an essential tool to mobilize finance and drive sustainable development across Latin America and beyond.”

George Hodgetts, Senior Policy Associate at VCMI, said: “Panama’s leadership on the design and implementation of innovative climate finance mechanisms shows what’s possible when climate ambition is paired with a commitment to integrity. We are excited to support the Ministry’s vision and help mobilize global investment to communities driving real-world climate solutions.”

UNFCCC Climate Week provides a platform for collaboration between governments ahead of COP30 in Brazil, where carbon markets are expected to play a key role in global climate negotiations, providing an essential tool for channelling finance to the Global South.

-ENDS-

About VCMI

The Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) is an international non-profit committed to realizing the full potential of high-integrity voluntary carbon markets (VCMs). Our mission is to empower companies, governments, and non-state actors to maximize the impact of their climate actions through the use of high-quality carbon credits.

VCMI’s Codes of Practice provide rigorous, science-aligned guidance for organizations to take credible and transparent climate action using high-quality carbon credits, enabling them to align their climate transition plans with accelerating progress to global net zero.

Through our Access Strategies Program, VCMI supports host countries, regions, and sectors to participate in high-integrity carbon markets and unlock the environmental, social, and economic benefits of carbon finance within national climate plans. This program is instrumental in building the necessary infrastructure for countries to participate meaningfully and benefit from the global carbon market.

At VCMI, we are committed to integrity, transparency, and impact, ensuring that every carbon credit used contributes to real, verifiable climate progress.

For media enquiries, please contact: VCMI@bcw-global.com

The post VCMI and the Government of Panama Announce Strategic Partnership to Strengthen National Carbon Market appeared first on VCMI.

VCMI’s Executive Director Mark Kenber will deliver the keynote address during the conference’s opening session. In addition, Bianca Gichangi, VCMI’s Regional Lead for Africa, will moderate a panel discussion on Shifting Buyer Preferences: Navigating Demand for High-Integrity Carbon Credits on Day 1 at 12:30 PM.

This partnership marks a critical milestone as Kenya accelerates its ambition to become a continental and global leader in high-integrity carbon markets. Its recent policy developments, including the 2024 Carbon Market Regulations and the operationalization of a Designated National Authority, have positioned it at the forefront of carbon market innovation and integrity in Africa and beyond.

Backed by VCMI’s Access Strategies program, the conference builds on a series of high-level stakeholder dialogues hosted between March and April 2025. These pre-conference sessions explored the pillars of integrity and trust, investment and innovation, and collaboration and inclusion, laying the foundation for an inclusive and actionable roadmap.

Key objectives of the conference include:

1. Reaching consensus on strategies to drive Kenya’s carbon market forward, informed by stakeholder insights.
2. Validating the 2025 Carbon Market Decision Paper, a stakeholder-led roadmap and accountability tool.
3. Showcasing innovations in carbon project finance, MRV systems, and benefit-sharing models.
4. Mobilizing multi-sector partnerships to support market reforms grounded in integrity.
5. Empowering youth and communities through inclusive business models, co-ownership strategies, and skills development programs.

The expected outcomes of this pivotal conference include the release of a shared action plan to guide the operationalization of Kenya’s carbon market, enhanced clarity on Article 6.2 and 6.4 readiness, and the formation of cross-sectoral working groups to carry forward key recommendations.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Amb Ali Mohamed, Kenya’s Special Envoy for Climate Change in the Executive Office of the President, said:

“The Kenya Carbon Markets Conference presents a model of public-private collaboration that other governments can replicate to unlock private sector finance for climate and sustainable development. By building strong, transparent markets, we can direct vital finance to communities, accelerate sustainable development, and build a more resilient future for Kenya and beyond.”

ENDS

About VCMI

The Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) is an international non-profit committed to realising the full potential of high-integrity voluntary carbon markets (VCMs). Our mission is to empower companies, governments, and non-state actors to maximise the impact of their climate actions through the use of high-quality carbon credits.

VCMI’s Codes of Practice provide rigorous, science-aligned guidance for organisations to take credible and transparent climate action using high-quality carbon credits, enabling them to align their climate transition plans with accelerating progress to global net zero.

Through our Access Strategies Program, VCMI supports host countries, regions, and sectors to participate in high-integrity carbon markets and unlock the environmental, social, and economic benefits of carbon finance within national climate plans. This programme is instrumental in building the necessary infrastructure for countries to participate meaningfully and benefit from the global carbon market.

At VCMI, we are committed to integrity, transparency, and impact, ensuring that every carbon credit used contributes to real, verifiable climate progress.

For media enquiries, please contact: VCMI@bcw-global.com 

The post VCMI partners with Government of Kenya to support Carbon Markets Conference appeared first on VCMI.