35th Week Carbon Credit Markets 2025. 🇪🇺 Permanent credits for purchases; funds and insurance instead of buffer pools; innovation in agriculture at COP30; marine mCDR advances; banks; books etc
- Art Dam
- Sep 7
- 8 min read
Monday, 08 September 2025.
Highlights from the 35th Carbon Credit Markets 2025 week.
- Carbon Credits. European Union is considering purchasing permanent carbon credits, while ICVCM experts discuss funds and insurance as alternatives to buffer pools.
- Other Highlights. AgriZone at COP30 showcases scientific leadership in agro-environmental innovation, the mCDR Coalition advances marine carbon removal, and Deutsche Bank updates its climate strategy amid NZBA’s retreat.
- Opportunities. Launch of the book Carbon Hunters, public consultations on certifications and carbon auctions in the EU, technical proposals from Verra, and integrity and sustainability initiatives in Brazil and Colombia.
- Events. Many events — see below.
CARBON CREDITS
💶 European Union Explores Direct Purchase of Permanent Carbon CreditsThe European Commission is considering the creation of a purchasing program for permanent carbon removals (CDR), aiming to stimulate investment, accelerate technological development, and meet climate targets. Three newly published studies by Ramboll Management Consulting and Ecologic Institute examine how such a program could drive short-term demand (2025–2030), recommending that the EU acquire various types of removal credits and adopt mixed funding sources — including the EU budget, Member State contributions, and private capital.
Additionally, the reports map the current landscape of CDR projects in Europe, identifying financing barriers and expansion opportunities through 2035. They also assess existing programs, such as the Innovation Fund and Horizon Europe, and propose innovative financial models to support emerging initiatives. The proposal is seen as a strategic step toward transforming the voluntary carbon market into a reliable and effective tool for climate neutrality.
Below is the 148-page study “An EU Purchasing Programme for Permanent Carbon Removals” and here is the press release, with links to the other studies.
🛡️ Permanence Trust and Insurance Instead of Buffer Pools? ICVCM Webinar NotesThe webinar held on September 5, 2025, focused on the permanence and durability of carbon credits in the voluntary market. Moderator Alexia Kelly emphasized the need for systemic solutions to address reversal risks and ensure the environmental integrity of credits—topics being explored through ICVCM’s Continuous Improvement Work Program.
Richard Iliffe provided an update on the evaluation process for programs and methodologies eligible for the CCP label. He noted that seven programs have already been approved, with seven more under review. Additionally, 11 credit categories have been validated, covering 28 methodologies such as reforestation, biochar, biodigesters, and forest management. According to him, around 80% of the market’s historical volume has already been assessed.
Lynn Riley from the American Forest Foundation introduced the concept of a “Permanence Trust” as an alternative to traditional buffer pools. She explained that small forest landowners cannot commit to 100-year contracts—“we know that humans are not really great at predicting things that are centuries into the future”—which limits their participation. The proposed fund would accumulate resources over time to monitor and compensate for reversals after contracts end, offering greater flexibility and fairness to projects.
Nandini Wilcke from Carbon Pool presented the idea of specialized insurance as a substitute for buffer pools. She explained that the company uses probabilistic models to price risks such as wildfires and droughts, arguing that regulated insurance offers greater transparency and reliability. Carbon Pool is already involved in pilot projects with standards like Verra, allowing insurance to replace buffer pool contributions.
Sandeep Roy Choudhury from VNV Advisory shared the perspective of community-based projects in Asia. He warned that requiring long-term contracts and full liability from developers is unfeasible and unfair, especially in local contexts. He advocated for risk-sharing models among developers, buyers, and the market, reminding participants that permanence is just one of several quality criteria for carbon credits.
Finally, Natalia Dorfman from Kita acknowledged that buffer pools have worked but lack transparency and standardization. She highlighted that insurance can complement or replace buffers, provided there is clarity around legal responsibility. According to her, the lack of definition regarding who is accountable for reversals hinders the scalability of insurance, and the market must better define where that responsibility lies.
The webinar concluded with consensus among panelists on the importance of practical and collaborative solutions to ensure the permanence of carbon credits, emphasizing the potential of funds and insurance as integrity mechanisms in the market.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
🚜🌱 AgriZone at COP30: Global Science in the SpotlightEmbrapa, Brazil’s public agricultural research company and a leading force in sustainability innovation for rural development, has announced the selected proposals for the AgriZone program at COP30, which will take place from November 10 to 21, 2025, in Belém, Pará.
Most of the approved proposals for AgriZone at COP30 are Brazilian in origin, accounting for around 65% of the initiatives, with strong representation from institutions such as Embrapa, universities, cooperatives, and national companies. The remaining 35% come from abroad, featuring international organizations and countries like Canada, France, Japan, the United States, and Germany. This diversity reflects AgriZone’s collaborative and global nature, aiming to connect science, innovation, and sustainability in a strategic space during the climate conference.
The initiative is part of the Climate Journey and will bring together events and activities that showcase technologies, research, and sustainable solutions developed by Brazilian science. Supported by partners such as Senar, Nestlé, Bayer, IICA, Caixa, and Sebrae, AgriZone is set to be a strategic hub linking agro-environmental innovation to global climate decision-making.
Click below for the full list of approximately 350 approved proposals and here for an article on the topic.
🌊 Launch of the mCDR Coalition: A Global Alliance for Ocean Carbon Removal.
The Carbon Business Council has launched the mCDR Coalition, an international alliance bringing together companies, NGOs, and scientists to accelerate marine carbon removal with environmental responsibility and community engagement. The initiative aims to transform the ocean—which covers 71% of the Earth—into a strategic ally in the fight against climate change.
After nearly two years of informal collaboration, the coalition now offers a formal platform for knowledge exchange, scientific research, policy engagement, and strengthened relationships among leaders in science, conservation, and governance. Active members include companies such as Captura, Planetary, Ebb Carbon, and Vesta, along with institutional observers like Carbon180 and Ocean Visions.
The initiative also connects with projects like the European Union’s SEAO2-CDR. It marks a decisive step toward scaling ocean-based solutions with transparency and positive impact. Read more here.
🏛️ Uncertain Climate: Deutsche Bank Updates Plan as NZBA Retreats
Deutsche Bank has revised its climate strategy with a focus on achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, setting specific decarbonization targets for eight carbon-intensive sectors:
Oil & Gas
Power Generation
Automotive
Steel
Coal Mining
Cement
Shipping
Commercial Aviation
The plan includes reducing the bank’s own emissions, those of its supply chain, and financed activities — including a €118 billion corporate portfolio — along with the creation of a Nature Advisory Panel to integrate environmental risks into financial decision-making.
This update comes amid a global reassessment of sustainable finance, with major banks withdrawing from climate commitments or exiting coalitions like the Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA). Under pressure from legal and political risks, particularly in the U.S., NZBA is voting to replace its membership model with voluntary guidelines — a move that could weaken collective action and fragment decarbonization efforts in the financial sector.
OPPORTUNITIES
📘 Launch of the Book Carbon Hunters: Reflections and Forecasts of Climate Markets in the 21st Century, co-authored by Richard Sandor and Paula DiPerna. Richard, founder of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), and Paula, former director of the same institution and advisor to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), are key figures in the history of climate markets and have made significant contributions to public policy and international initiatives aimed at transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Among their milestones is the creation of the Tianjin Climate Exchange, launched in China in 2008 in partnership with PetroChina — a pioneering step in the internationalization of carbon markets. In 2023, Sandor publicly advocated for the adoption of an “absolute cap” in China’s emissions trading system, a proposal officially embraced by the government in 2025, with implementation scheduled for 2027. According to the author, the book will be published on September 20 and will be available for pre-order on Amazon starting that date. Special thanks to Jeff Huang 黄杰夫 for the recommendation.
📢 Commission Launches Procurement Process for the Fourth Common Auction Platform of the EU ETS. The Commission has initiated a two-stage restricted procurement procedure for the fourth common auction platform under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). In the first stage, interested candidates may submit a request to participate by September 15, 2025. These submissions will be assessed based on the published exclusion and selection criteria. Details available here.
🇪🇺Biochar, DACCS, and BioCCS: European Union Opens Consultation on Methodologies for Certifying Permanent Carbon Credits.The public consultation is still open — running until September 22 — and early feedback reveals concerns such as lack of clear definitions, environmental and social risks linked to biomass demand, economic impacts on supply chains, technical limitations in the proposed methodologies, and ideological disagreements over the EU’s role in climate regulation. Worth keeping an eye on.
📄 Verra is seeking proposals for the technical assessment of a new CO₂ capture module at natural gas processing facilities, aligned with methodology VM0049 under the VCS program. 🤝 The project is being developed in partnership with BKV Corporation and will undergo independent review. Deadline: September 22. Details here.
📢 Public Consultation: Integral M/LU-REDD+ Methodology by Cercarbono. Cercarbono, an international carbon credit certifier based in Colombia, is conducting a public consultation on its Integral M/LU-REDD+ methodology, which validates environmental projects with high standards of integrity and transparency. The draft version incorporates feedback from an independent third-party review and aligns with international agreements established by the UNFCCC. Open until September 25. Available in English and Spanish. 👉 Access the consultation here.
🇧🇷 Brazil, Agro Mais Integridade Seal (2025/2026). For companies and cooperatives aiming to align competitiveness, integrity, and sustainability. Applications are open until September 26 via this link.
EVENTS
🇪🇹📍September 8th to 10th, Africa Climate Summit (ACS2). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Discussion of various topics also in preparation for COP30. Click here to learn more and here specifically for VCMI's workshop on its Carbon Markets Access Toolkit.
🇦🇺🇧🇷📍Brazil Week 2025 in Australia. Events organized by CMI highlight the role of carbon markets and strengthen ties between Australia and Brazil in preparation for COP30 and the upcoming COP31, which will be hosted by Australia. Activities include a roundtable on September 9 at the Embassy of Brazil in Canberra, participation by advisor Ilona Miller at Sydney Business Day on September 11, and a keynote speech by the CEO at Brisbane Business Day on September 22.
🇲🇽📍September 10 and 11, Mexico Carbon Forum 2025, at the Expo Tampico Convention Center in Tamaulipas. Details of the fifth edition of the event are available here.
🇵🇪📌 September 11, Perú ASG 2025: Regulación, Divulgación y Sostenibilidad. By Programa de Inversión Responsable (PIR).
🖥️📍September 17, Countdown to CBAM 2026: How Businesses and Industries Are Getting Ready. OPIS experts detail the effects of CBAM on carbon trading and pricing, with guidance for maintaining competitiveness under the new rules.
🏴📍September 17, Ethical Finance Global 2025: Retreat, Recalibrate, or Revitalise? In Edinburgh, Scotland.
🇺🇸📍September 21-28, Climate Week NYC 2025.
🇺🇸📍September 22, 2025 Forbes Sustainability Leaders Summit. Online or in-person in New York.
🇪🇺🖥️ September 22, Innovation Fund Webinar – IF25 Hydrogen Auction. European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action will cover the draft Terms and Conditions (T&C) for the upcoming 2025 Hydrogen Production Auction under the Innovation Fund (IF25 Hydrogen Auction).
🇮🇳🇯🇵 September 23, Business Consultation Meeting on the JCM (Joint Crediting Mechanism) Process with Private Companies. In Hyderabad, India. Register here.
🇧🇷📍September 26. Visit to Aquapolo Ambiental, one of the largest water reuse projects in South America. Organized by IBGC - Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance.
🇧🇪📍September 29–October 3, European Hydrogen Week #EUH2Week2025. In Brussels, Belgium.
🇧🇷📍October 7th and 8th, SAE Brazil 2025 Congress. In São Paulo.
🇧🇷🌳 October 14-16, Carbon Market: The Benefits for the Forestry Sector - 5th Symposium on Forest Sciences of Espírito Santo, Brazil. By the Federal University of Espírito Santo.
🇸🇬📍October 16-17, Singapore Carbon Market & Investor Forum. By the Carbon Market Institute.
🇿🇦📍October 21-23, Carbon Markets Africa Summit (CMAS). Johannesburg, South Africa.
🇬🇧🖥️📍October 30, IFRS Sustainability Symposium ‘Pathways to adoption’. Online or in person at Convene Sancroft, St. Paul’s, London.
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