This report provides a high-level summary of the main developments observed during the first half of 2022, based on the four voluntary carbon market standards we follow.
Highlights include:
- Carbon credit issuance activity slowed by one-fifth in the first half of 2022, compared to the same period last year
- Issuances from nature-based solution activities decreased by one-third compared to the volumes issued over H1 2021, reaching 56 Mt
- Surplus of non-retired VERs increased steadily throughout the first half of 2022, rising from 562 Mt at the end of 2021 to 621 Mt today
- Nature-based solutions and renewable energy activities lead issuances, jointly representing nearly 80% of all issuances in H1 2022
- Retirements of carbon credits matched retirement volumes observed over the same period last year, stabilizing at around 70 Mt