This report from the Climate Change Committee argues that carbon credits have an important, but small role in supporting decarbonisation. Published in October 2022, it recommends that governments implement stronger guidance, regulation and standards, suggesting that without more stringent measures, companies may use carbon credits as a substitute for cutting emissions. NOTE: Other studies have found that companies which purchase carbon credits are decarbonising faster than those that don’t.
This academic paper, published by Frontiers in Climate, is essential reading for anyone wondering how to address flaws in the voluntary carbon market. Published in October 2022, the authors argue that the challenges facing the carbon market are not only resolvable but that they must be overcome to achieve our global climate goals. It states that voluntary carbon markets can effectively catalyse climate action.
In this explainer released in October 2022, the World Resources Institute explains that carbon markets are currently undervaluing tropical forest carbon credits. Why? They do not account for tropical forests’ non-carbon biophysical processes such as albedo; evapotranspiration, surface roughness and aerosols. Is there a way to accurately reflect these non-carbon benefits and climate mitigation potential in the voluntary carbon market?
Confused by net zero, carbon neutral and nature positive? This whitepaper, published by Emergent in October 2022, breaks down the jargon deterring corporates from the carbon markets and provides some real-life examples of climate and nature strategies. It explains how companies can support these strategies by purchasing REDD+ credits from tropical forest projects.
What is nature tech? What does it measure? And how can it help address the climate and nature crises? Published by Nature4Climate in September 2022, this report is relevant to both project developers and corporates who want to understand how nature tech could benefit them. It discusses the potential of nature tech to build trust, reduce costs and increase accuracy.
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.