.jpg)
35th week CCM 2026. Interoperability. National markets, CORSIA, Article 6; automation, dynamic baseline; NBS, technology, ITMOs; new Verra-S&P registry; credit-climate-nature synergy
- Art Dam
- 4 hours ago
- 6 min read
Monday, 31 August 2026.
35th Week Carbon Credit Markets in 2026.
If you’d like, you can read the article while listening to any Carbon Credit Markets tracks.
Carbon credits have taken center stage in debates, with experts at the 4th Climate & Carbon Conference in Brazil highlighting the need to accelerate market growth, strengthen integrity, invest in automation, modernize certification, and advance the integration of national systems with CORSIA and Article 6.2. We present highlights from the panel that gathered insights on automation and continuous monitoring, the role of the Core Carbon Principles, challenges facing forestry projects, and the adoption of dynamic baselines in conservation initiatives; the discussion also noted that international markets - such as those in Japan and Switzerland - have favored technological solutions due to lower exposure to permanence and integrity risks, while ITMOs continue to see structured demand and a growing preference for industrial mitigation methodologies.
Other highlights include the launch of Verra’s new integrated registry with S&P Global Energy, which unifies programs, enhances transparency, and centralizes the tracking of carbon credits, projects, and transactions on a single platform.
Briefs & Opportunities present a Robeco white paper showing how credit, climate, and nature can converge in financial strategies that support the transition while delivering measurable environmental impact.
In addition to a list of relevant events.
Carbon Credits
In Brazil, Experts Discuss Challenges, Certification, and Integration of the Carbon Credit Market.
On August 28, at the conclusion of the 4th Brazilian Climate & Carbon Conference by Brazil NBS Alliance, the panel "The future of carbon credit certification in Brazil" highlighted the urgency of accelerating the domestic market. Moderator Bruno Brasil (BRCarbon) criticized the market's slow pace but noted that volumes tripled once regulatory progress was made.
Iara Musse (SCCON) presented compelling slides advocating for automation, robust data, and continuous monitoring platforms as pillars for trust, traceability, and the reduction of misinformation. Her presentation outlined challenges such as integrity, methodologies, interoperability, ESG risks, and a lack of standardization, alongside opportunities linked to the Brazilian Emissions Trading System (SBCE), the demand for reliable data, and the intensive use of AI, Remote Sensing (RS), and advanced modeling.
Remo Filleti (ICVCM) reinforced the role of Core Carbon Principles (CCP) as a quality benchmark, already reflected in approximately 113 million issued credits and 44 approved methodologies. He noted that the market, media, and data providers view the CCP both as a key differentiator and a fundamental element of credits, commanding price premiums of 10 - 18% and up to 40% for cookstove projects. Regarding the SBCE, CORSIA, and Article 6.2, he remarked, "Interoperability is becoming increasingly evident. It is the future."
Thibault Sorret (Equitable Earth) highlighted Brazil's potential to lead in nature based solutions, provided it does not isolate itself methodologically. When asked about challenges, he pointed to project duration - “Who will be around after 40 years?" - and the physical scale of projects: "Thousands of hectares. How do you verify them? And what about the baseline?" He concluded by suggesting the adoption of a “dynamic baseline” for forest conservation projects - such as the Equitable Earth methodology, which creates time-adjusted baselines to reflect actual changes in deforestation risk and dynamics.
Cássio Souza (Verra) stated that integrity has become a structural element since 2019, that Brazil is central to a new tropical REDD+ methodology, and that the market must overcome the divide between voluntary and regulated sectors, consolidating “a single carbon credit market.”
From other panels, we highlight below a few statements we heard.
“Brazil is well ahead in terms of integrity” - David Nieto (Sylvera), comparing NBS carbon credits between Brazil and Asia. He noted that while Asian credits might range from $5–$6 per tonne, Brazil could compete in quality markets - such as the United States - at $9 per tonne. Panel: Who will invest in NBS? The new demand for carbon.
“A common language needs to be established among countries” - Scott Dickson (Chrysalabs). Panel: MRV 2.0: satellites, data, and artificial intelligence redefining the market.
“Forests viewed as an economic asset and a financial liability. This perspective needs to evolve” - Renato Rosenberg (Brazilian Forest Service), emphasizing management as a way to boost carbon credits. Panel: Forests with local development infrastructure.
“As of 2024, it has become clearer who owns the carbon” - Mariane Nardi (REDD+ team, Ministry of the Environment/Brazil). Panel: Key market players: the role of traditional communities and Indigenous peoples.
Structured Demand, Reduced Risk, and the Current Appeal of Technological ITMOs.
Japan and Switzerland - examples of the wealthy "Global North" - already support smaller nations by purchasing ITMOs preferentially from technological projects, demonstrating that the market is not limited to Nature-Based Solutions (NBS).
Take Switzerland, for instance. Its bilateral agreements allow for both technological projects and NBS. However, in practice, Switzerland has strongly prioritized technological projects - excluding NBS activities that carry risks regarding permanence or integrity. It is worth noting that South Pole, the company involved in the Kariba Project (mentioned below), is headquartered in Switzerland. In other words, while the agreements are "agnostic," the actual portfolio is predominantly technological.
The same trend is evident in Japan: the ITMO portfolio under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) consists almost entirely of technological solutions - such as energy efficiency, renewables, methane and N₂O reduction, electrification, and low-carbon infrastructure - with currently minimal or zero participation from NBS projects.
Technological solutions drive patents, scalability, and continuous innovation. For countries less endowed by nature, looking beyond forests is not merely an option, it is the only way to build the genuine capacity to generate high-tech value credits.
China, meanwhile, is already scaling up mitigation technologies - ranging from methane and N₂O reduction to CCUS and industrial efficiency - demonstrating that countries with large industrial bases can generate credits without relying on natural resources or vast land areas.
All of this is achieved without the land-tenure and integrity risks seen in the Kariba REDD+ Project in Zimbabwe, the Isangi Project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or the land-grabbing fraud schemes perpetrated by the "Carbon King" in Brazil.
It is no coincidence that capital has favored technological solutions, often paying a premium for them. Notably, the first two methodologies approved under Article 6 focus on landfill methane and nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer production - with no NBS methodologies approved to date. And ultimately, the voluntary market suffers on the demand side, whereas the ITMO market will always have structured supply and demand.
Others Highlights
Verra and S&P Global Energy Launch New Registry System Integrating Carbon Credits and Climate Programs
Following announcements made on July 27, Verra launched a new, next-generation registry developed in partnership with S&P Global Energy. This system offers a more integrated, efficient, and centralized experience for users of its programs - including the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), the Plastic Waste Reduction Program, and the Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta). By consolidating previously dispersed functionalities into a single platform, the new system improves navigation, enhances transparency, and facilitates the tracking of credits, projects, and transactions, marking a significant advancement in the organization's digital infrastructure.
Briefs & Opportunities
The white paper “Credit, Climate and Nature – Now Together” published a few weeks ago by Robeco - a global asset manager specializing in sustainable investments - outlines how credit strategies can support the climate transition while incorporating nature-related outcomes, reflecting the evolving risks and opportunities in this changing landscape. It is well worth reading in full to understand these emerging connections.
Events
September
🇲🇽 2 - 3, México Carbon Forum. Aguascalientes, Mexico.
🇨🇭8, Taking Responsibility. Navigating the New Era of Ongoing Emissions. Gold Standard.
🇨🇳15, Carbon Market Conference. Open Coalition on Compliance Carbon Market, in Wuhan, China.
🇺🇸 22 - 23, North America Climate Summit (NACS) 2026, New York
🇮🇳 28, India Forum: Advancing International Carbon Markets for Climate Ambition, Sustainable Development and Shared Prosperity. Delhi, India.
October
🇦🇿🇺🇳 5 - 9, UNFCCC Climate Week 2, Baku, Azerbaijan.
🇫🇷 7 - 8, OECD Forum on Green Finance and Investment. In Paris or online.
📅 07 - 08, Congress SAE BRASIL 2026, Pavilhão da Bienal – Parque Ibirapuera, São Paulo, Brazil
🇦🇺 20 - 21, Australasian Emission Reduction Summit, Adelaide, Australia
November
🇹🇷 9 - 20, COP31. Antalya, Türkiye.
Carbon Credit Markets is an educational channel and leading media outlet in the carbon markets with a strong digital presence and a global audience in over 100 countries.
