This whitepaper from The World Economic Forum speaks to corporates seeking to help halt and reverse deforestation. Released in September 2022, it advocates for jurisdictional approaches to REDD+ as a forest protection strategy and highlights case studies from Brazil, Ecuador, Ghana and Vietnam. These examples are helpful for those looking to understand how large-scale forest protection works in practice.
This resource from NCS Alliance makes the business case for natural climate solutions. Published in September 2022, it shares immediate actions that C-suit executives can take right now that will support nature, the climate and their businesses. Above all, this guidance document emphasises the need for quality throughout the decarbonisation process.
This report from Ecosystem Marketplace sets out the state of the voluntary carbon market in 2021 – it quadrupled in value compared to 2020. Published in August 2022, the report reveals that the total market value neared $2 billion in 2021 and considers credit integrity in the context of rapidly rising value. It is relevant to corporates and project developers looking to understand the modern-day history of the voluntary carbon market.
This guidance document from The World Resources Institute explains how nature-based carbon credits can support decarbonisation through 2040. Published in June 2022, it recommends the voluntary carbon market adopt guardrails to better align itself with two principles: carbon projects should respect the rights of Indigenous people and a company must already be on an emission reduction pathway before purchasing carbon credits.
Published by BeZero in June 2022, this report considers the dynamic between avoidance and removal credits in the voluntary carbon market. It says that while avoidance credits currently dominate the market, there needs to be a rise in removal credits to help the world achieve its global climate goals. NOTE: We do not advocate creating a division between avoidance and removal credits. Rather, we need to recognise the essential yet differing roles each credit type can play in the corporate decarbonisation journey.
Following the G7’s statement on the potential of carbon credits, The Oxford Institute of Energy Studies discussed the role of carbon markets in contributing to climate mitigation and sustainable development in June 2022. It considers the potential of carbon markets to accelerate financial flows to climate action and support the world’s most vulnerable to navigate changing weather patterns. It provides an interesting context for anyone looking to learn more about the carbon markets.
Produced by The World Resources Institute, this document guides the voluntary use of carbon credits generated by nature-based solutions, particularly those generated beyond an organization’s value chain. Developed by a WRI working group in June 2022, it is focused on nature-based solutions and markets and acts as a one-stop resource to discover the Institute’s latest thinking on nature-based solutions.
Blue Carbon works with marine ecosystems to deliver climate mitigation solutions. It is an area of nature-based solutions that is increasingly capturing corporate attention. Published by McKinsey in May 2022, this report is essential reading for business leaders interested in purchasing credits from blue carbon projects as it breaks down the available solutions into the categories established, emerging and nascent. This can help inform future decarbonisation strategies.
This report from The Environmental Defense Fund questions the security of investing in soil carbon storage. Published in May 2022, it does not think that soil carbon science has developed enough to make these projects a worthwhile investment compared to other nature-based solutions available. NOTE: Soil has an immense capacity to capture and store carbon from the atmosphere. These methodologies are constantly improving and evolving.
This report from EY predicts that carbon credits will grow increasingly expensive and scarce. Published in March 2022, it is relevant to corporates debating whether to include carbon credits in their decarbonisation strategy as it provides useful insights into market trends. It advises how business leaders can prepare for a future in which carbon credits are both more expensive and highly needed.