Zambia has launched a national carbon registry to strengthen oversight of its carbon market and prepare the country for wider participation in international trading under the Paris Agreement. The Zambia Carbon Registry went live on 7 August 2026, giving project developers, government authorities, and the public a single digital system to record and track carbon market activity.
An environmental specialist analysing digital climate data on his tablet while overseeing a reforestation project in Zambia. AI generated picture.
The registry is built into Zambia's monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) system and is designed to improve the accuracy of carbon accounting. It records mitigation activities, issues mitigation outcomes with unique serial numbers, and tracks their transfer, retirement, and cancellation. This structure helps reduce the risk of double counting or overselling emissions reductions.
Developed with support from the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C) programme, the platform is tailored to Zambian law and aligns with international standards under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. It connects to the country's national inventory and measurement systems, so emissions reductions can be counted towards Zambia's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) or transferred abroad as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs).
A future update is expected to bring voluntary carbon market (VCM) projects into the system. The registry currently serves project developers, designated operational entities, government authorities, and the public, offering open access to information on registered activities and transactions.
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Zambian officials said the system makes carbon market activity more visible and open to review. Dr Douty Chibamba, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, said, “Zambia’s Carbon Registry is fully online, demonstrating our integrity and strong commitment to accountability and transparency.”
The registry was delivered by the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre and GFA Consulting Group, working with local partners including the Center for Energy, Environment and Engineering Zambia (CEEEZ), the Zambia Environmental Management Agency, and the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment. According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Zambia is among the first countries to build a fully customised digital registry designed to work with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
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