Verra, the world’s largest environmental standards body, has teamed up with S&P Global Commodity Insights to build a new generation carbon registry. The initiative is designed to strengthen transparency, scalability, and trust in carbon markets—elements long seen as essential for their growth.
A young tree sapling surrounded by bees, with a newly planted African forest in the background and a man working on his tablet. AI generated picture.
The registry will combine Verra’s project hub with S&P Global’s Environmental Registry platform, creating a single system for traceability, centralised documentation, and automated transactions. By connecting directly with the Meta Registry®, it will also prevent double-counting, one of the most persistent issues eroding confidence in carbon credits.
‘Registries are the backbone of the carbon market’, said Verra CEO Mandy Rambharos. She emphasised that the new platform will deliver ‘smarter, more connected infrastructure capable of restoring trust and improving market resilience’.
The collaboration could be especially significant for Africa. The continent is home to a growing portfolio of high-integrity green projects—from mangrove restoration to forest protection—but many face barriers in attracting international buyers. Transparent credit tracking, combined with globally recognised systems, is expected to improve market access and ensure that local communities benefit directly.
Leanne Todd, head of energy transition and sustainability at S&P Global Commodity Insights, called the development ‘a defining moment’ for the sector. ‘Our alliance sets the stage for tangible benefits of improved transparency, credibility, and credit tracking efficiency’, she said.
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The first rollout of the registry is planned within six months, with full integration expected by 2026. Future phases will enable digital transactions through APIs, streamline high-volume trading, and align with international frameworks, including Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and CORSIA.
To ensure accessibility, Verra also intends to provide training for project developers, helping stakeholders—particularly in Africa—navigate the complexities of carbon markets and engage more effectively in global trade.
This collaboration marks a pivotal step toward reinforcing the infrastructure of voluntary carbon markets, with implications reaching far beyond individual projects to the broader effort of financing environmental action worldwide.
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As Verra and S&P Global set new standards for transparency and trust in carbon markets, the signal is unmistakable: High-integrity carbon projects are becoming the foundation of global environmental finance. Robust systems like these unlock capital for forestry, ecosystem restoration, and regenerative agriculture—demonstrating how nature-based solutions can scale with credibility. At DGB Group, we share this vision, putting nature first by developing large-scale restoration projects that generate verified carbon units while uplifting local communities and protecting biodiversity. With international demand for quality credits rising, now is the time to engage in this growing market and take meaningful steps toward reducing your business’s footprint.
