Beyond the Scandals: Mapping Corruption in Voluntary Carbon Markets

VCMs involve the generation and trading of carbon credits, tradeable instruments equivalent to a tonne of carbon dioxide which are derived from activities that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere. They are bought by companies to offset the emissions they produce to reach net zero goals. These markets are expected to play an important role in helping countries to meet net zero targets while also channelling finance to environmental preservation. Widespread reports of corruption in VCMs damage the reputation of the market and risk curtailing plans to scale it. However, until now, there has been no comprehensive review of the full spectrum of corruption risks in VCMs.

In this video commentary, Research Analyst Jennifer Scotland introduces new RUSI research scoping corruption risks in VCMs and explains how upcoming RUSI research will inform strategies to address the enablers of corruption to restore confidence in VCMs and allow them to deliver real climate impact.