The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM)

Join us for a transformative conversation on gender and carbon markets. 🌍 In partnership with PwC UK and Social Development Direct, we are excited to co-host a special webinar to explore the findings of the groundbreaking guidance from the Work and Opportunities for Women (WOW) Programme: “Integrating Gender into the Design, Implementation, and Monitoring of Carbon Credit Projects” on December 3rd. This practical guidance marks a significant step forward in ensuring gender equity within carbon credit projects, demonstrating how gender-balanced initiatives can enhance not only ethical standards but also the effectiveness, resilience, and integrity of the #VoluntaryCarbonMarket. The webinar will provide: ✅ Insights into the WOW guidance and its implications for project developers. ✅ Perspectives from the Integrity Council on how gender balance and women’s representation shape voluntary carbon markets. ✅ A collaborative platform to discuss how gender-inclusive approaches can drive positive social and environmental outcomes. Integrating gender considerations strengthens project outcomes, addresses cross-cutting SDGs, and creates meaningful benefits for women and communities. 📅 Date: December 3, 2024 🕑 Time: 1:00 -1:45 pm (GMT) 🔗 Join here - https://lnkd.in/eRmmDK3s #GenderEquality #VoluntaryCarbonMarket #Sustainability #ClimateAction

Reminder 🔔 Our next Market Consultation Group Webinar is today. This is an invaluable opportunity to stay informed about the latest developments in the #VoluntaryCarbonMarket. 🗓 Date: Monday, November 25 🕘 Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. GMT 📍 Link to join: https://lnkd.in/e8EBD4ip

Wrapping Up COP29: Advancing sustainability through high-integrity #VoluntaryCarbonMarkets 🌍 Today, we concluded our #COP29 journey with a powerful panel discussion hosted in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme. 🌿 This session brought together diverse voices to explore how carbon markets can deliver tangible benefits for nature, communities, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 💡Key takeaways from the discussion: 🔹 Tackling deforestation in low-governance regions requires strong local and national governance, capacity building, and collaboration with Indigenous Peoples and/or local communities. Onel Masardule, Co-Chair of the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities VCM Engagement Forum, aptly stated: “We are all on the same planet and feel the effects of the climate crisis. We all need to contribute.”🌐 🔹 Building high-integrity carbon markets demands robust methodologies that deliver in principle and practice, supported by collaboration among stakeholders and governments. Akiko Inoguchi highlighted: “National regulation and guidance are important, but local government has a key role to play as well. Ultimately, they’re the ones interacting with the local community to help facilitate projects and conduct monitoring in line with national regulation.”🤝 As #COP29 draws to a close, the Integrity Council remains ready to ensure the voluntary carbon market achieves its potential for accelerating climate action.📈 🔗Discover how we are advancing efforts to create a more transparent and resilient #VCM2.0: https://lnkd.in/eCemmjjv

🔔Reminder to join us at the Forest Pavilion today for an engaging session on how high-integrity #CarbonMarkets can drive sustainable development, deliver nature-positive outcomes, and ensure real emissions reductions while benefiting ecosystems and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 🌱 🔗 Register to access the live stream: https://lu.ma/vrqvyrgz

Today at #COP29, our Associate Director of Policy Anton Tsvetov took part in a panel discussion on the ‘Implementation and Operation of Voluntary Carbon Markets in the European Context’. The session highlighted the need for collaboration and shared learning to drive transparent and credible carbon markets, with a focus on additionality and permanence—key pillars of integrity in the #VoluntaryCarbonMarket.🌐 Anton underscored the Integrity Council’s Continuous Improvement Work Programs role in strengthening permanence requirements, testing pooled buffer reserves, and developing innovative risk management approaches like industry-wide buffer pools and insurance solutions.📈 "This area of work is moving so fast—new methodologies, new technologies, and so on. To address this, our Continuous Improvement Work Programs (CIWPs) help ensure we, as the ICVCM, stay informed on these developments." he said. 💡What’s next? Join the Indigenous Peoples and/or local communities VCM Engagement Forum Co-Chair Onel Masardule at The World Bank panel tomorrow. Onel will be sharing his insights on recognising the critical role CIWPs play in climate mitigation and ensuring that these markets evolve to support their communities effectively and equitably. 🤝 The panel will feature an expert line up in the intersection of Indigenous rights, sustainability, and carbon markets and will discuss how carbon markets can recognise the invaluable contributions of Indigenous Peoples in climate mitigation, followed by reforms needed to ensure these markets support Indigenous aspirations rather than extract resources. 🕒When - 9:00 a.m. 📍Where - World Bank Pavilion #IndigenousLeadership #CarbonMarkets #ClimateAction #Sustainability

Join us for our upcoming Market Consultation Group Webinar, where we’ll be diving into key updates and progress of our work shaping the future of high-integrity #VoluntaryCarbonMarkets.     💡Agenda Highlights    We’ve packed this session with essential updates and discussions, including:  ✅ Assessment Decisions and Program Assessments in Progress   ✅ CCP-Approved methodologies and insights on CCP-labelled credits to date ✅ Updates on our Continuous Improvement Work Programs (CIWP)   ✅ ICVCM at COP29 – A recap of our activities and contributions at #COP29.    🔍Why Attend?  This webinar is an invaluable opportunity to stay informed about the latest developments in the #VoluntaryCarbonMarket, hear directly from the Integrity Council experts about our ongoing work and upcoming plans, and get your questions answered.    Whether you’re a private-sector stakeholder, policymaker, or advocate for sustainability, this session is for you. Join the webinar stay at the forefront of carbon market developments 🙌    🗓 Date: Monday, November 25  🕘 Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. GMT  📍 Link to join: https://lnkd.in/e8EBD4ip #Sustainability #ClimateAction

Following last week's announcement of three CCP-Approved REDD+ methodologies, the Integrity Council is co-hosting an event with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) at #COP29's Forest Pavilion. 🌲 The event on Thursday is during 'Forests and Biodiversity Day' and will provide valuable insights into how high-integrity carbon markets can drive sustainable development and deliver nature-positive outcomes. This session will highlight the role of ICVCM’s Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) in ensuring that carbon credits support real emissions reductions, benefit ecosystems, and advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Panelists include: - Anton Tsvetov – Associate Director for Policy, ICVCM (Facilitator) - Onel Masardule – Co-Chair, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities VCM Engagement Forum - Babaria Quispe -- Director of Climate Change, MINAM, Perú Perú  - Akiko Inoguchi – International Consultant, FAO (virtual) This is a unique opportunity to explore policy initiatives that enable private carbon finance to contribute significantly to #SustainableDevelopment, with a focus on developing and forest-rich countries. For those accessing the event virtually, please sign up to access the live stream link. 🔗 More: https://lu.ma/vrqvyrgz

Last week the Integrity Council approved three methodologies for issuing #HighIntegrity carbon credits to tackle deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) in developing countries. 🌲 Meeting global climate targets requires halting deforestation by 2030, meaning substantial financial investment is needed. Without the finance unlocked through high-integrity carbon credits, achieving this level of investment will be extremely challenging. 💭 Learn more with our interactive carousel and blog: https://lnkd.in/evav279B 🔗 #SustainableDevelopment #Nature #Forests #VCM #VoluntaryCarbonMarket

The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market has approved three methodologies for issuing #HighIntegrity carbon credits to tackle deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) in developing countries. This decision marks another critical step forwards in creating a transparent, trustworthy market that drives meaningful climate action. Amy Merrill, Integrity Council CEO, said: “There is no chance of meeting our climate and biodiversity goals without increased finance for nature, Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The assessment process has concluded that these approved methodologies are robust and that they manage risk effectively. These decisions are important, bringing the confidence needed to underpin investment and marking the start of a much-needed new chapter for nature in the carbon markets."  Integrity Council Board Chair Annette Nazareth added, “We are grateful for the rigorous engagement of our independent experts, which has enabled us to reach the first set of assessment decisions on this important category of carbon credits.”  🔍 What’s Next? Once programs start issuing CCP-labelled REDD+ carbon credits, the Integrity Council's oversight and assurance role means it will ensure ongoing compliance with our high-integrity requirements.  The Integrity Council is also continuing its rigorous work to assess carbon crediting programs and methodologies. Decisions on two additional ART TREES crediting levels - focusing on high-forest, low-deforestation (HFLD) regions and carbon removals - are anticipated by year-end, in addition to assessing clean cookstove methodologies.

The UK government has just published a set of principles, signed by the Chancellor and Secretaries of State for DESNZ and Defra, to guide responsible participation in voluntary carbon and nature markets. https://lnkd.in/exJf_hFc There is no question that we need to improve the quality of carbon credits, based on robust methodologies and delivered in a way that benefits people and nature. A lot of progress has been made over the last year to develop standards and best practice, and we can see that these are already driving improvements. Given the urgency of climate action we need to mobilise all available sources of finance, particularly for developing economies. Scaled up high-integrity carbon markets can play a significant part in this, alongside increased public and development finance. At COP29 many developing country ministers and leaders have been talking about the importance of carbon finance to delivering their NDCs, including Minister Thakuri of Nepal at our launch event yesterday. As Minister McCarthy put it: "For carbon markets to be better trusted in terms of integrity, requires buyers and investors to have more confidence that carbon credits deliver the benefits they claim, and can be used responsibly, without delaying ambitious science-aligned action on cutting emissions. The UK Government wants to help drive this change." Huge thank you to my team and colleagues in HMT and Defra who have been working hard to deliver this, and will be launching a public consultation on how to apply the principles in the UK in the new year. And to all those who helped bring the launch event together. Shivani Katyal Simon Petley Chris Shipley Lucy Jane Collyer Kim Wilkinson Fayyaz Muneer Helen Edmundson Andrew Death Maggie Charnley Joanna Macrae OBE Allister Furey Ben Rattenbury Mark Kenber Lydia Sheldrake Lorna Ritchie Amy Merrill Rachel Kyte Matt Toombs Ben Fagan-Watson Tommy Coyle Marco T. #UKatCOP29