The battle against climate change is intensifying, with the urgency to find sustainable solutions becoming more acute. Within this global effort, the integrity of carbon markets is paramount, ensuring they truly benefit host countries and contribute effectively to their Nationally Determined Contributions.
The High-Integrity Carbon Markets Initiative, launched by UNDP at COP28, was one of the first solid steps taken on an international level to show integrity-based commitment to these principles. It aims to enhance transparency, equity, and the impact of carbon trading on sustainable development goals (SDGs), embedding rigorous social and environmental safeguards at the heart of carbon market transactions.
Brazil’s active role in leading high-integrity forest carbon markets
In line with this initiative, Brazil's Amazon states are actively participating in ways to leverage forest carbon for sustainability and development. The technical workshops on measuring, reporting, and verification (MRV) of forest carbon represent a critical stride in this direction. The sessions held in Palmas, Tocantins, and subsequently in Brasília last February and in early March, served not only as a platform for capacity building among state environmental secretariats (SEMAs) but also as a cornerstone for Brazil to integrate into the global high-integrity carbon finance landscape.
The engagement of the States of the Brazilian Amazon, notably Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins, , in these workshops, underscores Brazil's proactive stance in preparing for high-integrity forest finance. By focusing on the data and methodologies applied in developing Brazil’s national forest reference emission level (FREL), these initiatives are paving the way for Brazil to access and benefit from high-integrity carbon markets effectively.
The collaborative efforts, supported by the Government of Norway and implemented in partnership with WayCarbon, reflect the commitment to reducing deforestation and fostering sustainable forest management. These workshopsaimed at building the technical expertise necessary for MRV practices. MRV of forest carbon is a crucial ingredient for high environmental integrity and with that a cornerstone for ensuring that the vast carbon sink of the Amazon contributes to global climate mitigation efforts while generating sustainable economic opportunities for local communities.
The work around high-integrity carbon markets in Brazil illustrates a comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship, where standing forests are recognized for their carbon storage capabilities as well as for their their pivotal role in preserving biodiversity and supporting local livelihoods. Learn more about Brazilian states’ crucial role in this process here.