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ZIMBABWE’S carbon credits offer vast green economic opportunities, emerging as a significant financial mechanism for driving climate-friendly initiatives, experts have said.
Carbon credits are tradeable digital certificates. They represent the reduction, removal or avoidance of one tonne of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
They assign a financial value to the critical work ecosystems like forests and wetlands perform in capturing and storing carbon. The global carbon credits market is a rapidly growing mechanism designed to monetise reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
The market valuation approached US$900 billion in 2025 and is expected to exceed US$6 trillion by 2033.
It consists of compliance (regulated) markets and voluntary (corporate sustainability) markets.
These markets enable entities to offset emissions by purchasing credits from certified climate projects.
Zimbabwe is transitioning to a strictly regulated, compliance-based carbon market. The country aims to phase out unregulated voluntary credits.
The Government, through the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, has reaffirmed that Zimbabwean carbon credits are fully compliant with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) requirements. This clarification follows recent misleading statements.
In a recent statement, the ministry noted misleading assertions regarding the CORSIA eligibility of duly generated and authorised Zimbabwean carbon credits.
“These assertions are not only demonstrably and categorically false, but present a direct attack on Africa’s development and climate ambitions,” the ministry stated.
“The ministry wishes to state clearly and unequivocally that the units in question meet all applicable CORSIA eligibility requirements, including recent changes adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council.
“The decision by the Gold Standard Foundation, in light of the ICAO Technical Advisory Board (TAB) recommendations, to delay the recognition of their eligibility is an open affront to the objectives of CORSIA, and risks causing significant financial harm to innocent Zimbabwean communities.”
The ministry said this delay does not stem from a lack of environmental integrity, but rather from a systemic regulatory misalignment between ICAO’s rigid technical interpretations — specifically the “continuous maintenance” rule — and the sovereign tracking mechanisms required by the Paris Agreement.
The ministry noted with concern that this regulatory bottleneck severely prejudices Zimbabwe and the broader African continent.
It inadvertently penalises developing nations for building the exact robust United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)-aligned national tracking infrastructure required to execute Article 6 corresponding adjustments.
“We urgently call for the immediate harmonisation of these frameworks so that African nations are no longer unjustly punished for leading the way in transparent, high-integrity climate action,” the ministry said.
“The ministry wishes to emphasise the following established facts: Units issued on the Gold Standard Impact Registry following the application of a corresponding adjustment by Zimbabwe are new, legally distinct units.
“This is clearly established by Zimbabwean policy, industry standards of practice and Gold Standard’s own procedural documents. The issuance of such units has occurred at the discretion of Gold Standard and under the full authority of Gold Standard, following the completion of all requirements by the Government of Zimbabwe.”
The ministry concluded that the credits in question are fully valid Gold Standard Verified Emission Reductions (GSVERs).
They are represented in the registry as unique and were appropriately issued following the completion of formalities by Zimbabwe.
It said Gold Standard’s registry records for the credits accurately reflect their issuance, while Gold Standard has an obligation under CORSIA to label all credits that meet the eligibility requirements as eligible, and to enable their use as valid offsets under the scheme.
“Zimbabwe retains full confidence in the quality of its mitigation activities, and emphasises that no questions have been raised as to the underlying environmental integrity of these credits,” the ministry said.
“Correspondingly, the ministry denounces any statements that distort Zimbabwean laws and policies and seek to artificially undermine confidence in legitimate carbon credits and market mechanisms like CORSIA.”
The ministry called on all independent carbon standards bodies, intermediaries and market participants to act responsibly, engage constructively and refrain from disseminating incomplete or misleading claims.
It said Zimbabwe remains fully committed to working with international partners, crediting programmes and multilateral institutions to ensure that high-integrity Zimbabwean carbon credits receive fair and lawful treatment in global markets, including CORSIA, where applicable.
“We are confident that such efforts will result in the swift and favourable resolution of the current impasse, delivering crucial climate finance to where it is most needed,” said the ministry.
“Zimbabwe will continue to defend the interests of its people, the value of its environmental assets and the sovereign right to participate equitably in emerging climate finance mechanisms.”
In 2024, the Government established the Zimbabwe Carbon Markets Authority (ZiCMA) within the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife.
The agency is mandated with the management and regulation of carbon market activities throughout Zimbabwe.
ZiCMA also ensures that carbon market activities align with Zimbabwe’s national development strategies, mitigation and adaptation efforts while delivering meaningful, sustainable development outcomes.
In an interview, Mr Kwanele Hlabangana, the executive chairperson of “The ClimatePrenuer”, a premier African-based initiative focused on promoting climate action, sustainability and entrepreneurship, said new doors were opening in Zimbabwean carbon credits.
“Carbon credits could unlock funding for green initiatives while helping the country contribute to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.
“The global carbon trading system is anchored in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, a landmark climate treaty signed by 197 countries to curb global warming.
“Everything that is done in terms of climate change is guided by the Paris Agreement, particularly Article 6.1, which allows countries to cooperate voluntarily in implementing their nationally determined contributions (NDCs).”
Mr Hlabangana said these efforts are meant to promote sustainable development while ensuring environmental integrity.
Under the agreement, countries must develop and submit climate action plans known as NDCs, outlining how they intend to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.
These commitments are reviewed every five years.
Mr Hlabangana said carbon credits function as financial instruments which reward organisations or governments that implement environmentally friendly projects.
“These credits can then be sold on the international market to countries or companies that struggle to meet their emission reduction targets within their own economies,” he said.
“A company in a country like the United Kingdom may find it expensive to reduce emissions within its own operations. They may then invest in a green project in a country like Zimbabwe, which produces carbon credits that they can buy to meet their climate obligations.”
Sectors that could generate carbon credits in Zimbabwe include renewable energy projects such as solar, wind, geothermal and biogas systems, offering strong potential, particularly as the country seeks to expand clean energy sources.
Mr Hlabangana said energy efficiency initiatives are also eligible for carbon credits. They include improved cooking technologies, efficient lighting systems, greener industrial processes and environmentally friendly buildings.
Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA) programmes officer Ms Tadiwanashe Kuseri said the expansion of carbon projects can lead to job creation in sectors like forestry, renewable energy and waste management.
“At the same time, carbon credits can attract international investment. Companies with high emissions in developed countries can invest in projects in developing countries to meet their climate goals, driving foreign investment into new green projects.”
As a climate justice activist, Ms Kuseri called on young people to transition from passive observers to active architects of the environmental economy by monetising carbon credits through project development, tech-driven validation and specialised green jobs.
She said rapidly evolving voluntary and compliance carbon markets are projected to reach values ranging from billions to over US$1 trillion globally within the next decade.
“This massive growth enables youths to convert environmental conservation directly into sustainable local income streams. They can initiate small-scale, community-led projects like reforestation, agroforestry and local waste management that capture carbon or reduce emissions,” said Ms Kuseri.
Young Farmers Collective Zimbabwe vice chairperson Mr Clive Munakandafa, who is also the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers union Matabeleland North vice chairperson, said carbon credits present opportunities for climate-smart agricultural practices.
“Farmers can do rotational grazing, improve soil management and reduce the use of synthetic fertilisers to lower emissions while maintaining productivity. We can see that some farmers are moving towards organic fertilisers, which are more sustainable and climate-friendly,” he said.
He further said sustainable agricultural practices such as “zero tillage” (Pfumvudza/Intwasa) and rice paddy management generate credits while improving soil health and increasing agricultural efficiency.
derick.khumalo