Project

Improving Voluntary Carbon Markets for nature-based solutions

Carbon removal credits derived from nature-based solutions, such as agroforestry or regenerative agriculture, are a promising route for achieving negative emissions. But implementing these solutions presents a big investment for farmers. And current market dynamics fail to adequately value the additional benefits of these credits, for example biodiversity enhancement and supporting community development. How can carbon removal credits become an effective financial instrument for farmers, agrifood organisations, and investors, encouraging more sustainable farming practices? The Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) can play a key role.

VCM: a promising contribution to negative emissions

The VCM is not yet a mature market, struggling with issues of credit comparability and market liquidity, undermining its credibility. Furthermore, low prices and lack of valorisation of co-benefits hinder farmer participation in the market, limiting the scalability of nature-based solutions. But VCM shows great potential in contributing to negative emissions through nature-based solutions. Meanwhile, agrifood companies are increasingly committed to sustainability goals beyond mere offsetting, indicating increasing demand for these solutions. In order to support companies in transparently achieving their sustainability targets, we believe transforming carbon credits into an effective instrument for financing sustainable agrifood practices is the way forward.

A standardised marketplace for nature-based solutions credits

In this Public-Private Partnership (PPP), we aim to make carbon credits an effective financial instrument for the transition towards sustainable farming practices. We wish to develop a standardised marketplace for nature-based solutions credits in the voluntary carbon market to increase liquidity, transparency and credibility of the market. Our activities include:

  1. Standardising credits based on a collection of existing methodologies from known standard setters (Verra, Plan Vivo, Gold Standard; EU carbon removal certification). This will allow for comparability between credits via an add-on system based on the benefits nature-based solutions offer to biodiversity and local communities.
  2. Developing a centralised marketplace for nature-based solutions credits in the VCM. A platform where carbon credits can be offered by issuers to buyers, buyers can compare credits in terms of their add-ons and origin to easily align with their value chains. Bilateral transactions will be the norm, so the platform is a place for transparency and comparability to be possible.

Join us in redesigning the VCM for nature-based solutions

This PPP enables:

  • Financing for nature-based solutions is made available for farmers
  • Companies are supported in reaching their net zero and scope 3 ambitions in a transparent and reliable manner
  • More buyers and sellers entering the market, increasing traded volume of credits

Are you a VCM broker, trading company, or an organisation in the agrifood sector interested in enhancing sustainable practices along your value chain? Are you interested in investing in nature-based solutions credits and would you like to reshape Voluntary Carbon Markets for more sustainable farming practices? Then sign up for our info session without obligation. The date will be announced as soon as possible. During this session, we will elaborate on the project and answer all your questions.