The Role of Voluntary Carbon Markets in Global Climate Action

Cover
Year published
2025
Theme
Environmental
Author
UNCTAD
Category
Report

This study proposes several options to address the challenges and enhance the quality, scale, interoperability, and interconnectivity of VCMs. These include: 1) providing policy clarity on the role of VCMs within national and international carbon pricing mechanisms, with international organizations playing a supporting role through technical assistance and global coordination; 2) creating demand for carbon credits by leveraging offset mechanisms that link VCMs with compliance markets or carbon taxes, consistent with Article 6.2 and 6.4 of the Paris Agreement; 3) enhancing the quality and integrity of carbon credits by promoting the adoption of Core-Carbon-Principles by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM); 4) promoting interoperability among VCMs through the establishment of cooperation mechanisms; 5) adopting technological solutions to improve the distribution of benefits to communities in developing economies and moving to an impact based approach beyond CO2 offsetting; 6) developing operational rules for cross-border transactions; and 7) enhancing capacity building for VCM regulators and key participants in developing countries.