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Aerial image of a beach with some plant cover.
BENDING THE CURVE ILLUSTRATION South Australian Blue Carbon Ecosystem Restoration Project site © Jarrod Boord/Streamline Media

The reality is clear: we need to use every ready, proven, and scalable tool now to address the global climate crisis. The rapidly evolving carbon credit market has the potential, in combination with other strategies, to meaningfully mitigate the impact of greenhouse gas emissions and provide valuable conservation co-benefits for people and nature.

Below you can find The Nature Conservancy's latest reports, explainers, and other articles around the policy, science, and implementation of carbon credit projects.

Carbon Insights

Deep-dive into the latest explorations on carbon markets' most debated issues from TNC's perspective.

  • Cover for the Bending the Curve report shows an illustration of a woman planting a tree with a background of solar and wind energy sources..

    Bending the Curve

    In this paper, The Nature Conservancy presents our vision for the role of carbon credits in corporates’ journey to Net Zero to open the conversation around the optimal role of credits in corporate climate action. Find out more.

  • Large black square reads "The Climate Ambition Gap" in white letters in front of an illustration of factory, locks, and eonomic iconography.

    The Climate Ambition Gap

    Discover how a new vision of the voluntary carbon market can help the world reach critical climate targets. Read the article.

Policy Resources

From the global stage to local legislation, carbon markets, both compliance and voluntary, need of sound regulation to grow and thrive. Here are resources to help understand and navigate the latest progress on Article 6 as well as guides for countries wanting to strenghthen their regulation to foster high-integrity carbon markets locally.

  • Cover for the Article 6 at COP29 paper.

    Article 6 Takeaways at COP29

    COP29 marked a milestone for Article 6 as countries finalized the remaining building blocks of carbon markets. This report shares key takeaways and what comes next for COP30. Read the outcomes.

  • Article 6 Implementation Cover.

    Article 6 Implementation

    While the UNFCCC negotiations on Article 6 set up a framework for cooperation on carbon markets, many decisions around implementation are left to national governments. This explainer explores emerging trends for countries' national strategies. Download the explainer.

  • REDD+ Article 6 cover.

    REDD+ Article 6

    This explainer breaks down the relationship between REDD+ and Article 6, what was decided in the Article 6 negotiations, and what’s on the table for COP29. Explore the explainer.

  • Article 6 Explainer: COP28 Update

    This paper offers straightforward guidance on what has been decided so far on these and more topics. View the full explainer.

  • To Trade or Not to Trade

    This paper focuses on options for operationalizing corresponding adjustments under Article 6. It takes stock of the existing guidance around accounting and draws insights from how countries are implementing this guidance. Read the full report.

Implementation Resources

Carbon markets hold an unprecedented potential when implemented with high integrity. Find below resources and guidance on how to rethink the way carbon markets are implemented along the whole journey. From stakeholder involvement, to project development and corporate claims.

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    The Bar of Excellence

    The Bar of Excellence aims to set the minimal threshold for The Nature Conservancy's carbon credit-related projects to ensure that they are consistent with our mission. Read the guide.

  • Cover for the Tuning in Report.

    Tuning In: Community Benefits through Jurisdictional REDD+

    This report highlights JREDD+ benefit-sharing plans (BSP) by analyzing case studies and common traits across operational benefit-sharing approaches. Read the full report.

  • The Strongest Currents cover.

    The Strongest Currents

    In this paper, we explore the state of the climate-related claims landscape for companies, including a summary of current voluntary standards and guidance, corporate adherence to best practices, and government oversight. Read the report.

  • Beyond Beneficiares cover.

    Beyond Beneficiaries

    This report seeks to identify current frameworks in the benefit-sharing of today as well as the shortcomings in current benefit-sharing approaches. It also offers a snapshot of current guidance and solutions in achieving robust IP&LC partnerships. Learn about fairer carbon markets.

Science Decoder Series

The Nature-Based Credit Science Decoder Series is a set of explainers on current scientific best practices and gaps for carbon projects developed in seven common Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) pathways.

  • Remote Sensing cover.

    Remote Sensing

    This guide discusses various concepts, platforms, tools, and data sources to help buyers of high-quality carbon credits evaluate the rigor of carbon market service providers, such as ratings agencies and third-party monitoring services. Download the report.

  • Blue Carbon - ENGLISH.

    Blue Carbon

    This guide provides an overview of how high-quality Blue Carbon projects apply the latest scientific advancements and tools to create projects with high integrity. Download the full report.

  • Cover for the ALM Decoder.

    Agricultural Land Management

    With this summary, buyers of high-quality carbon credits can better evaluate whether projects are effectively deploying rigorous scientific tools and approaches. They can also identify priority areas for research investment. Download the paper.

Red Mangrove.
Red Mangrove Red Mangrove grows along the edge of Baie Liberte. © Tim Calver

OVERVIEW

Carbon Markets 101

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