Testimonials &
Case Studies

Latin Ameria and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) hold immense potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture while building more resilient, prosperous, and biodiversity-rich food systems. Unlocking this potential requires catalytic finance and strong institutional support. High-integrity carbon markets offer a powerful opportunity to channel private capital into sustainable agricultural transformation across the region.

The Voluntary Carbon Market Integrity Initiative (VCMI) is proud to have incubated the Partnership for Agricultural Carbon (PAC)—a regionally anchored platform working to accelerate the agricultural sector’s access to high-integrity carbon markets. PAC brings together governments, farmers’ organizations, and technical and financial partners to strengthen the enabling conditions for carbon market participation that supports NDC implementation and delivers real benefits to rural communities.

Hosted by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), PAC delivers targeted technical assistance, tracks evolving policy and regulatory landscapes, builds institutional capacities, and generates strategic knowledge products. Its work supports VCMI’s broader mission to scale voluntary markets with integrity, transparency, and impact.

State of Yucatan (Mexico)

In partnership with Climate Focus and UNDP, VCMI supported and the Government of Yucatan to develop and publish best practice guidelines for private sector actors seeking to develop voluntary carbon market (VCM) projects within the state. 

The State of Yucatan is recognized globally for its rich biodiversity and natural ecosystems, particularly mangrove wetlands and tropical rainforests: the Yucatan Peninsula contains 60% of the mangroves in all of Mexico.

The VCM can serve as an instrument to attract investment for conservation, restoration, and sustainable development.

To learn more, check out the Best Practice Guide and press release.

Benin 

VCMI has partnered with the Government of Benin to ensure the effective integration and governance of high-integrity carbon markets within its national climate plan, as one tool among many to finance its nationally determined contribution (NDC). 

Benin is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries globally. Under a business-as-usual warming scenario, it will be one of the most exposed countries to extreme temperatures by 2070. Already, climate hazards have significantly impacted its agricultural productivity, water resources, and food security.  

This project will support Benin to strategically leverage carbon finance from local projects, allowing Benin to mitigate climate risks while enhancing food security and energy independence. 

Kenya 

VCMI funded the secondment of a carbon markets specialist to work directly within the Government of Kenya to support the development of the country’s holistic carbon market regulations (both Article 6 and voluntary).  

Additionally, VCMI has supported the establishment of a collaborative and inclusive platform for public, private, and civil society stakeholders in Kenya to examine challenges, explore solutions, and develop recommendations for the growth of a high-integrity carbon market in the country, culminating in a high-level Carbon Markets Conference. 

These initiatives have reinforced Kenya’s position as a global leader in producing high-quality, high-value carbon credits, attracting global investment into local climate solutions. 

Peru 

VCMI is collaborating with Peru’s Ministry of Environment to expand and scale the country’s voluntary carbon market. This involves evaluating a range of policy options to incentivize investment (domestic and international) into high-quality carbon projects that align with Peru’s climate and sustainable development priorities, as well as strengthening local private sector knowledge and capacities to boost developer and investor engagement.

Pakistan 

Legal and policy uncertainty has slowed the growth of carbon market activities in Pakistan. To attract investment into high-integrity carbon projects, VCMI is supporting the Government of Pakistan to strengthen its legal framework on carbon markets and provide clear policy signals to market participants.  

This entails developing a streamlined approach to carbon market governance by creating a single legal instrument governing both VCM and Article 6 Paris Agreement activities. The project seeks to incorporate Article 6 components, as well as recent local policy decisions, into the country’s carbon market rules.