Key Impact Points:
- Agreement to sell up to 5 million jurisdictional forest carbon credits from Acre, Brazil, over five years, starting in 2026.
- 72% of net proceeds will go to indigenous and local communities for sustainable development projects.
- Credits will meet ART-TREES standards, approved by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market, with independent verification by Sylvera.
Landmark Bank–State Partnership in Forest Carbon Markets
Standard Chartered has signed a five-year agreement with the Government of Acre, Brazil, to bring high-integrity jurisdictional forest carbon credits to market, potentially releasing 5 million credits in 2026. Located in the Amazon rainforest, Acre will use the programme to incentivise forest preservation while delivering economic and social benefits to local and indigenous communities.
This marks one of the first cases where a major international bank is partnering directly with a sub-national government to scale forest conservation through carbon markets.
Jurisdictional Credits with Verified Integrity
The credits will be registered under the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) using the TREES methodology, which has been approved by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM). Jurisdictional credits differ from project-based credits by covering an entire state or province and being overseen by government authorities.
An independent review of Acre’s programme, conducted by carbon data provider Sylvera, will be the first assessment of a Brazilian jurisdiction under ART-TREES – a move designed to boost market confidence.
Direct Benefits for Communities and Ecosystem Management
Acre’s benefit-sharing plan commits 72% of net funds to indigenous and local communities for initiatives such as sustainable livestock farming, reforestation of secondary forests, deforestation-free clearing, and community-based ecotourism. The remaining 28% will support project management, forest monitoring, TREES compliance, and climate disaster response.
Marisa Drew, Chief Sustainability Officer at Standard Chartered, said:
“Without deploying new market mechanisms, standing forests are unlikely to be protected because the short-term economic incentive for deforestation nearly always outweighs the perceived value of these long-term natural assets in situ. We’re leveraging our global network and carbon market expertise to address this challenge directly, offering a means to help preserve standing forests that act as vital carbon sinks, and in turn help the communities that depend on them continue to realise the economic and social returns they provide.”
State Leadership with Global Reach
Mr. Amarisio Freitas, Secretary of the Treasury of Acre, said:
“This arrangement will bring economic and social benefits to the people of Acre, while protecting our natural resources and supporting the traditional communities and indigenous peoples of our state. The government has fought for a fair society by providing solutions for all its inhabitants, creating development mechanisms in the regions furthest from the capital without negatively impacting the ecosystem. This arrangement provides us an effective tool in the fight for sustainable economic development. We are excited to work with Standard Chartered on this groundbreaking innovation.”
The agreement aligns with Brazil’s COP30 commitment to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030 and could serve as a scalable model for other jurisdictions looking to protect forests while driving sustainable growth.
Related Content: Carbon Compared Launches Free Tool to Help Businesses Source High-Integrity Carbon Credits
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