Guidance on Voluntary Use of Nature-based Solution Carbon Credits Through 2040

The World Resources Institute (WRI) provides guidance for organizations on the voluntary use of nature-based solution (NBS) carbon credits through 2040. The document establishes a framework of 'guard rails' to ensure that the use of these credits supports the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C warming limit without reducing the pace of an organization's own emissions reductions.

• WRI recommends ten 'guard rails' divided into supply-side, demand-side, and transaction categories to ensure the responsible use of NBS credits. Supply-side rails focus on environmental integrity, human rights, and biodiversity; demand-side rails require organizations to maintain a transparent, science-based path to reduce scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions; and transaction rails emphasize strong governance and transparent reporting on host country corresponding adjustments.
• The guidance distinguishes between two credible uses of NBS credits generated outside an organization's value chain: 'counterbalancing' and 'contributing'. Counterbalancing allows an organization to mitigate annual unabated emissions while on a science-based pathway, requiring adherence to all guard rails. Contributing involves supporting a jurisdiction's climate mitigation without offsetting the organization's own emissions, requiring only supply-side guard rails.
• WRI advocates for a shift from project-level crediting to jurisdictional-scale REDD+ credits. The document establishes a preference hierarchy for buyers: first, purchasing credits from registered and validated jurisdictional REDD+ programs; second, purchasing project-scale credits from projects showing good-faith efforts to transition to full nesting; and third, restricting project-scale purchases to those with exceptional qualities when no jurisdictional program is anticipated.
• To maintain environmental integrity, NBS credits must result in additional emissions reductions or removals and include systems to manage risks of leakage, reversal, and double counting. WRI notes that organizations should perform additional due diligence to address current system weaknesses, such as the overestimation of deforestation reference baselines.
• Social safeguards for NBS credits must include respect for internationally recognized human rights and the requirement of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for activities affecting the territories of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. This includes providing grievance mechanisms and ensuring a fair and equitable share of benefits.
• Organizations using NBS credits are advised to prioritize high-quality emissions reduction credits over removal credits (such as reforestation) in areas where deforestation is still occurring. They are also encouraged to pay a price premium for credits that provide higher positive impacts beyond carbon, such as enhanced biodiversity or social benefits.

APA

Bhatia, P., Cummis, C., Moss, K., & Warman, J. (2022). Guidance on Voluntary Use of Nature-based Solution Carbon Credits Through 2040. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/technical-perspectives/guidance-voluntary-use-nature-based-solution-carbon-credits-through-2040

Chicago

Bhatia, Pankaj, Cynthia Cummis, Kevin Moss, and Javier Warman. Guidance on Voluntary Use of Nature-based Solution Carbon Credits Through 2040. World Resources Institute, 2022. https://www.wri.org/technical-perspectives/guidance-voluntary-use-nature-based-solution-carbon-credits-through-2040.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bhatia |first1=Pankaj |last2=Cummis |first2=Cynthia |last3=Moss |first3=Kevin |last4=Warman |first4=Javier |title=Guidance on Voluntary Use of Nature-based Solution Carbon Credits Through 2040 |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=2 June 2022 |url=https://www.wri.org/technical-perspectives/guidance-voluntary-use-nature-based-solution-carbon-credits-through-2040 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bhatia2022guidance, author = {Bhatia, Pankaj and Cummis, Cynthia and Moss, Kevin and Warman, Javier}, title = {{Guidance on Voluntary Use of Nature-based Solution Carbon Credits Through 2040}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2022}, month = jun, url = {https://www.wri.org/technical-perspectives/guidance-voluntary-use-nature-based-solution-carbon-credits-through-2040}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }