More than 20 prominent organisations in the carbon market sector have issued a united call urging governments to create clear policy guidance that supports voluntary corporate environmental actions alongside national commitments under the Paris Agreement’s Article 6.
Drone view of a group of workers at a reforestation project in Kenya. AI generated visual
The statement, led by Singapore-based investment platform GenZero and backed by influential entities including the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (IC-VCM), highlighted the critical role that the voluntary carbon market (VCM) can play in delivering additional environmental finance and helping countries meet their national targets.
‘While host countries have the option to authorise mitigation outcomes for voluntary corporate use, this is not always required’, the statement explained.
The signatories advocated for policies that recognise voluntary initiatives as a complement to government-led green strategies. They called for host country guidance to prioritise investment sectors and for demand-side clarity to support credible corporate claims and transparent disclosures.
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement facilitates cooperation between countries by allowing them to transfer mitigation outcomes—essentially carbon reductions—to help meet each other’s green pledges. A key focus of the statement was the need for alignment between host country emissions strategies and the accounting mechanics of Article 6, such as Corresponding Adjustments (CAs), which ensure emission reductions are not double-counted across nations.
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To build confidence in carbon markets, the statement encouraged governments to support procurement and offtake mechanisms, especially for early-stage and transitional projects that meet both national and international standards aligned with Article 6.
It also emphasised the importance of integrating both emissions reductions—such as deforestation prevention and methane mitigation—and removals, including afforestation and direct air capture, into carbon strategies. Ensuring the quality of these credits is vital to attract the necessary capital and innovation.
‘Policymakers can play a crucial role in creating enabling environments for thriving high-integrity carbon markets that channel scaled private finance to environmental solutions that would not otherwise be viable’, said Amy Merril, Chief Executive of IC-VCM.
The coalition further recommended that governments strengthen market infrastructure with consistent monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) rules, accessible registries, and clear data standards. Tools such as carbon credit ratings agencies were cited as innovations that could help lower costs and boost transparency.
Backers of the statement include well-known registries like Verra and Gold Standard, ratings agencies including Sylvera and BeZero, and international organisations such as the World Bank and IETA.
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