Voluntary carbon and nature markets: raising integrity
Detail of outcome
We will publish the government response in Summer 2026.
Feedback received
Detail of feedback received
We consulted on proposals to raise integrity in voluntary carbon and nature markets, including how the government’s 6 Principles for Voluntary Carbon and Nature Market Integrity could be implemented through guidance, policy and, where appropriate, regulation. This publication summarises the feedback received. Respondents highlighted broad support for improving integrity, confidence and usability in voluntary carbon and nature markets, and emphasised the need for:
- clear, internationally aligned expectations on the appropriate use of credits
- robust approaches to credit quality
- transparent reporting and claims
- proportionate approaches to assurance and enforcement
- avoiding unnecessary fragmentation in a rapidly evolving standards landscape
We received 200 responses to the consultation from a wide range of stakeholders, including:
- businesses and financial institutions
- project developers and intermediaries
- civil society and environmental groups
- standards and assurance bodies
- academics and public sector organisations
Original consultation
Consultation description
This consultation expands on the UK government’s principles for VCNM integrity, launched by Kerry McCarthy MP, Minister for Climate Change, at COP29 in November 2024.
The consultation invites views on the implementation of those six principles, taking account of their applicability in the context of varying maturity of markets. It also aims to clarify expected standards for guiding supplier and buyer engagement in VCNMs, and invites responses on how these approaches could be reflected in guidance, policy and potentially regulation, supported by market architecture that could embed and scale high-integrity practice.
Read our consultation privacy notice.
Documents
Updates to this page
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Published summary of responses.
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First published.