Published by the International Chamber of Commerce and Oxera, this report assesses the voluntary carbon market’s current challenges and opportunities. It identifies barriers to credit quality, transparency and market functioning, and presents 14 recommendations to strengthen integrity, governance and policy alignment.
This guidance by the Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets outlines voluntary principles for increasing high-integrity corporate demand for carbon credits. It sets expectations for decarbonisation-first strategies, procurement of high-quality reductions and removals, fair pricing, co-benefits, transparent disclosure and substantiated claims. The principles draw on PACM, ICVCM and CORSIA standards, and encourage government alignment to improve market consistency, legal clarity and recognition of credible buyers.
Developed by IMD and UNIL, this practical guide explains how voluntary biodiversity credits (VBCs) can finance conservation and restoration while supporting business biodiversity goals. It contrasts VBCs with carbon credits, sets integrity criteria, and offers a step-by-step buyer checklist. Emphasises outcome-based biodiversity measurement, credible MRV, Indigenous participation, and transparency as foundations of a high-quality VBC market.
A realist literature review commissioned by FSD Africa and FCDO assessing social, economic, and environmental impacts of carbon markets in LMICs. It finds that inclusive governance, upfront finance, and higher carbon prices drive better outcomes for communities, while poor design and low prices heighten risks.
This VCMI – Accenture study explores the key concerns and opportunities shaping corporate engagement in voluntary carbon markets based on input from 65+ companies and 60 market reports. While carbon markets remain essential to climate ambition, risks currently outweigh perceived benefits. Businesses call for clarity on how and when to use credits. Framework alignment, credit quality assurance, and clearer financial value cases are seen as critical to increasing corporate investment and restoring momentum.
This AlliedOffsets report analyses voluntary carbon market activity by corporate buyers, revealing that demand remains highly concentrated, with Microsoft and Meta leading. Financial services and tech dominate volumes, but new entrants across sectors are emerging. It explores buyer motivations, retirement trends, and offsetting behavior, including how different sectors approach Scope 3. Regional and company-level insights show growing attention to integrity, price signals, and permanence. The report includes a leaderboard, strategy breakdowns, and trends in project types and geographies.
This AlliedOffsets market overview tracks the surge in carbon dioxide removal (CDR) activity in H1 2025. While Microsoft continues to dominate demand, biochar and biomass-based methods lead in issuance. The report unpacks buyer trends, price shifts, and early diversification into DAC, ERW, and mineralization.
This guidance from VCMI helps companies navigate Scope 3 emissions in line with credible climate action. It outlines three key principles: reduce first, disclose transparently, and limit credit use to no more than 25% of Scope 3 emissions annually. The Code complements SBTi targets and integrity claims, ensuring that corporate offsetting strategies do not undermine decarbonization. It aims to create demand-side accountability, clarify buyer claims, and bolster trust in high-quality carbon markets as part of the net zero transition.
The Carbon Market Institute’s annual report tracks Australia’s evolving carbon market, policy reforms, and investor sentiment. It unpacks shifts in credit pricing, demand, and project type, and explores how equity, integrity, and First Nations engagement are shaping a more sustainable market architecture.
AlliedOffsets introduces a forecasting model for the VCM, simulating credit demand under various market conditions through 2030. Scenarios reflect divergent buyer behavior, regulatory signals, and investor sentiment. The baseline scenario projects steady growth in retirements, while an optimistic scenario sees near 1 GtCO₂e retired annually by 2030. It identifies market levers (e.g. Scope 3 frameworks, policy alignment, pricing clarity) that could influence uptake. The model helps guide strategy for developers, buyers, and intermediaries navigating future carbon market dynamics.