Zimbabwe

Carbon Markets Authority

Zimbabwe’s carbon market offers a unique opportunity to achieve unparalleled returns on investment from the generation and trading of high-quality, compliance eligible carbon credits. In addition to its vast natural and socio-economic potential well-suited to the development of mitigation activities, Zimbabwe’s unique policy framework and carbon market infrastructure make Zimbabwean credits more fungible and valuable. Issued onto the world’s first blockchain-based national carbon registry, Zimbabwean credits can be securely transferred anywhere or retired with a corresponding adjustment within a single secure digital ecosystem. In Zimbabwe carbon credits benefit from full property right protections, with additional safeguards to protect investments for the duration of project implementation.

Carbon credits are tradeable units that represent the reduction or removal of one metric ton of carbon dioxide or its equivalent (CO2e). They are used by governments, organisations, companies and individuals to offset their emissions and contribute to the fight against climate change. There are two main types of carbon credit: compliance credits – issued under regulated carbon markets, and voluntary credits which are largely unregulated. Zimbabwe is the first country to phase out the issuance and use of voluntary credits, transitioning to a compliance only market by 2026. Credits issued in Zimbabwe can still be used for voluntary purposes but must comply with the higher quality assurance and accountability measures of the compliance market.

Carbon markets contribute to climate mitigation by creating financial incentives for activities that reduce or remove emissions. This allows governments, organisations, and individuals to reduce their emissions at lower cost. Carbon markets stimulate sustainable development by unlocking investment green investment, driving economic growth, and improving economic resilience. Many carbon generating activities such as renewable energy, create wide-ranging socio-economic benefits and would not be possible without the revenue generated by carbon credits. By supporting adaptation and reducing global emissions, carbon markets can further help reduce Zimbabwe’s vulnerability to climate change – protecting its people from socio-economic harm. In addition, the Government of Zimbabwe has introduced a series of strict measures to ensure the sustainable development benefits from the carbon trade are increased and accurately accounted for. Twenty percent (20%) of all investment made in carbon projects must be used for sustainable development purposes agreed in conjunction with affected stakeholders.

A high-quality carbon credit represents a real, verifiable, and additional emission reduction or removal. All credits registered on the Zimbabwe Carbon Registry (ZCR) are independently verified and issued in accordance with the rigorous quality controls put in place by Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Anyone can verify the integrity of a credit on the ZCR using its unique QR code linked directly to a secure blockchain record that allows efficient tracking over the entirety of its lifecycle.

Yes. Under Zimbabwe’s comprehensive carbon market regulations all Article 6 compliance eligible carbon credits can be used for voluntary transactions and offsets.

Anyone interested in investing in Zimbabwe’s carbon market as a buyer, end-user, project developer or auditor can register through ZiCMA’s secure online application portal.