13th Week CCM 2026. Carbon credits advance in the United Kingdom, Congo, India, Paraguay, Brazil; Canada and Alberta cut methane; Big oil and the Carbon Countdown; Vacancy; SocialCarbon; SAF
- Art Dam
- 4 hours ago
- 7 min read
Monday, 30 March 2026.
13th Week Carbon Credit Markets in 2026.
Carbon markets saw several new developments this week: the UK highlighted that the voluntary markets already exceeds US$2 billion annually and could grow up to 15 times by 2030, requiring stricter standards to prevent greenwashing; Congo seeks to monetize its status as a major natural carbon sink through Article 6, transforming forests into ITMOs with robust governance and MRV; India launched its Carbon Markets Portal to structure a digital and transparent market supported by the CCTS, with methodologies already notified and transactions expected soon; Paraguay is positioning itself as a regional hub by combining renewable energy, high forest cover, and new sectoral governance, including the creation of CAPADECO; and Brazil is moving forward with the concession of the Bom Futuro National Forest, with 51,200 hectares for restoration and the generation of credits for 40 years, reinforcing the role of nature-based solutions as an economic and climate engine.
Other highlights of the week show relevant progress on the climate agenda: Canada and Alberta signed an agreement to cut methane emissions by 75% by 2035, creating a regulatory equivalence regime with independent monitoring, use of credits, and implementation already planned for 2027, a significant move to decarbonize the oil and gas sector; meanwhile, Shell, Petrobras, and CCARBON/USP launched the Carbon Countdown, which will be the largest carbon inventory in Brazil, with R$ 100 million invested to measure carbon stocks in all biomes using methodologies recognized by the IPCC, strengthening the scientific basis for carbon policies and markets in the country.
Shorts & Opportunities include a strategic vacancy for RCC Caribbean Article6 Expert supporting 16 Caribbean countries in the implementation of Article 6 (applications until April 17, 2026); the consultation on the SCM0003 v2.0 methodology, which reinforces scientific integrity and brings a limit of 20,000 hectares, open until April 23, 2026; and the 2026 North American SAF Conference & Expo, which is accepting abstracts on SAF until April 10, 2026, expanding technical opportunities in the sector.
And a list of unmissable events.
More details below and - if you like - listening to “Carbon Rises” or some other musical choice of your preference.
Carbon Credits
United Kingdom Highlights Impressive Figures When Assessing the Integrity of Voluntary Carbon Markets
On March 26, 2026, the British government released a summary of responses to the consultation on voluntary carbon and nature markets, highlighting that these markets already move more than US$2 billion per year globally and could grow up to 15 times by 2030, in addition to estimating that nature-based solutions could contribute up to one-third of the climate mitigation needed by 2030; the document shows broad support for more robust standards, greater transparency, better governance, more rigorous quality criteria and greater international alignment to avoid greenwashing, also reinforcing the need for standardized terminology, consistent reporting and guidance that ensures that credits complement — and do not replace — real decarbonization actions.
Congo, with great forestry potential, targets Article 6 to attract resources and sell credits
The most recent NDC of the Republic of Congo, deposited on February 12, 2026, highlights that the country intends to take full advantage of the “opportunités offers par l’Article 6 de l’Accord de Paris”, using cooperation mechanisms to “mobiliser des ressources additionnelles”, especially through “financement carbone”, as the document states: « le pays entend tirer pleinement parti des opportunités offertes par les mécanismes de coopération prévus à l’Article 6 » and « mécanismes innovants (financement carbone, obligations vertes, instruments de marché) ». This strategy is directly linked to the fact that Congo is a “puit net de carbone” — one of the largest natural carbon sinks on the planet—and seeks to transform this asset into ITMOs and revenues to finance its NDC, with a strong emphasis on REDD+, HFLD, and the creation of a robust national system of MRV, governance, and Autorité Nationale Désignée (AND) to ensure environmental integrity and access to international markets.
India Launches its Carbon Markets Portal
The official press release from the Government of India highlights that Minister Manohar Lal inaugurated the Indian Carbon Market Portal during the Prakriti 2026 conference, stating that India is consolidating a transparent, digital, and long-term carbon market, supported by the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), which already has nine notified methodologies, more than 40 entities registered in biogas, hydrogen, and forestry projects, and emission intensity targets for approximately 490 companies in seven energy-intensive sectors; the minister emphasizes that carbon markets should be seen as a strategic opportunity for innovation, investment, and sustainable growth, aligning with national climate commitments. Transactions are expected to begin within four months.
Paraguay Highlights Leading Role in Carbon Credits to Boost Green Economy
An official statement from the Paraguayan government on March 25th emphasized that carbon credits have become one of the pillars of its climate and economic strategy. During the Paraguay Carbon Forum 2026, President Santiago Peña highlighted that Paraguay combines 100% renewable energy, high forest cover, and a modern regulatory framework to consolidate itself as a regional hub for the generation and trading of carbon credits, attracting investments, stimulating conservation projects, and expanding its presence in the global green economy. Earlier in the month, the country had already announced the creation of the Cámara Paraguaya de Desarrollo y Comercio de Créditos de Carbono (CAPADECO), an initiative led by MADES, aimed at structuring and regulating carbon credit trading mechanisms, strengthening environmental governance, and boosting new green investments.
Brazil auctions off 51,200-hectare forest concession, envisioning restoration and carbon credit generation
The concession for the Bom Futuro National Forest, auctioned on the Brazilian stock exchange B3, allocates 51,200 hectares to sustainable forest management focused on environmental restoration and the generation of carbon credits over 40 years, with estimated investments of R$ 87 million. The winner of the bidding process, Re.green — internationally recognized after receiving the Earthshot Prize directly from Prince William — stands out as one of the leading references in nature-based solutions in the country, while Brazil advances in concession models that integrate conservation, local development, and climate finance.
Others Highlights
Canada and Alberta reach agreement to reduce methane emissions by 75% by 2035
The Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta announced an agreement in principle to establish a regulatory equivalence regime that will allow the province to adopt its own rules to reduce methane emissions by 75% by 2035, aligned with the federal commitment, replacing national standards with a performance-based provincial model, with the use of credits, targeted investments and independent monitoring, in addition to providing for the publication of an equivalence agreement for public consultation in 2026 and implementation by January 1, 2027, reinforcing intergovernmental cooperation to accelerate the decarbonization of the oil and gas sector. More details about the agreement can be found in the official statement from the Prime Minister of Canada and on the Government of Canada's technical page dedicated to methane reduction policy.
Shell, Petrobras, and CCARBON/USP launch Brazil's largest carbon inventory
Shell Brasil, in partnership with Petrobras and CCARBON/USP, launched Carbon Countdown, an R&D project that will create the largest carbon stock database ever conducted in the country, measuring in a standardized, scientific, and national-scale manner the carbon present above and below ground in all Brazilian biomes, with an investment of R$ 100 million and the use of methodologies recognized by the IPCC.
Shorts & Opportunities
The RCC Caribbean Article 6 and Carbon Pricing Expert position, based in St. George’s, Grenada, offers a strategic opportunity to work directly with the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, supporting 16 Caribbean countries on topics such as carbon markets, pricing, CDM transition, international cooperation, and non-market approaches, with a deadline for applications on April 17, 2026.
The public consultation on the SCM0003 v2.0 methodology, which improves the scientific integrity and eligibility criteria for carbon removals on private properties in Brazil — including new dynamic benchmarks, greater alignment with SOCIALCARBON v7.0, and a limit of 20,000 hectares — is open until April 23, 2026, and those interested can participate by accessing the official consultation link.
The organizers of the 2026 North American SAF Conference & Expo are accepting presentation proposals until April 10, 2026, and invite experts to submit abstracts in areas such as airline partnerships, offtake agreements, biological and thermochemical conversion routes, distribution infrastructure, federal policies, supply chains, and GHG accounting.
Events
🖥️ April 15 or 16, Upcoming ICAP Status Report 2026. Option April 15 (Americas and Europe). Option April 16 (Asia-Pacific and Europe)
🇰🇷🇺🇳 April 21 - 25, UNFCCC Climate Week 1, Yeosu, Republic of Korea.
🇨🇴🇳🇱 April 28 - 29, First International Conference on Phasing Out Fossil Fuels, by the Governments of Colombia and the Netherlands. In the city of Santa Marta, Colombia.
📅 April 29, Verra’s April 2026 Stakeholder Update Webinar
🇧🇷 May 13-14, Fórum CCS Brasil. British Consulate-General São Paulo, Brazil.
🇦🇺 May 20 - 21, Carbon Farming Industry Forum 2026. Freemantle, Australia
🇸🇬 May 20 – 22, Innovate4Climate (I4C) 2026. In Singapore
🇪🇸 May 21 - 22, 13th Meeting of the Roundtable on Financing Water. OECD, Bank of Spain (Banco de España), CDP and the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS)
🇵🇪 May 27 - 28, Peru Carbon Forum 2026, 3ra edición, ESAN, Lima, Peru
🇧🇷 August 27 - 28, Brazilian Climate and Carbon Conference, Brazil NBS Alliance
🇦🇿🇺🇳 October 5 - 9, UNFCCC Climate Week 2, Baku, Azerbaijan
Carbon Credit Markets is an educational channel and leading media outlet in the carbon markets, member of the coalition COP Experience, with a strong digital presence and a global audience in over 100 countries.
