UK Government’s Carbon Market Principles: A Game-Changer for Wilder Carbon and Corporates who want to take action now for climate and nature 

Sarah Brownlie Programme director

4 min read

UK Government’s Carbon Market Principles: A Game-Changer for Wilder Carbon and Corporates who want to take action now for climate and nature 

The recent UK government announcement of Principles for Voluntary Carbon and Nature Market Integrity marks a significant step toward strengthening trust and accountability in the carbon and nature markets. These principles, designed to align voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) with global climate goals, set clear expectations for high-integrity carbon credits and their role in achieving net-zero targets. For Wilder Carbon—a trailblazer in nature-based carbon solutions — this is a powerful affirmation of our approach and an opportunity to drive meaningful climate AND nature action. 

A Call to Action for Corporates: Secure High-Integrity Credits Now 

The UK government’s principles are more than guidelines—they’re a clarion call for businesses to act decisively. By signaling the critical role of Nature Markets in achieving climate and biodiversity goals, this announcement underscores the urgency for corporates to: 

  • Integrate carbon credits into their decarbonisation roadmaps. 
  • Commit to high-integrity solutions that support ecosystem restoration. 
  • Plan ahead to secure their share of high-quality credits as demand increases. 

With 2030 fast approaching, corporates must align their strategies with these principles to demonstrate leadership and responsibility in the global fight against climate change. 

Wilder Carbon’s Commitment to High-Integrity Standards 

Wilder Carbon is proud to have its Wilder Carbon Standard for Nature and Climate under assessment for the ICVCM Core Carbon Principles (CCPs), the global benchmark for high-quality carbon credits. Our focus is on delivering nature-based solutions that not only remove carbon but also restore ecosystems and provide biodiversity benefits. (The development of a product that explicitly bundles these benefits as both directly claimable is in development, so watch this space!). 

The UK government’s principles align seamlessly with Wilder Carbon’s mission and the principles that underpin its Wilder Carbon Standard for Nature and Climate, reinforcing the credibility of our work and highlighting the urgent need for corporates to embrace high-integrity solutions. Here's how we meet these principles: 

  1. Use Credits in Addition to Ambitious Value Chain Actions 
    Wilder Carbon supports organisations in using our credits as part of a broader strategy to decarbonise their operations, ensuring carbon removal complements direct emission reductions. Our Approved Buyer framework assesses this on a proportionality of effort, act now and continue to improve and demonstrate impact over time.  
  2. Use High-Integrity Credits 
    All Wilder Carbon projects are designed and delivered by experts in their field to ensure maximised impact for nature, as well as carbon. Projects are rigorously verified against science-backed methodologies, ensuring real, additional, and permanent carbon removal that meets ICVCM and other global standards. 
  3. Measure and Disclose the Use of Credits 
    We emphasise transparency, helping corporates integrate credit usage into their sustainability reporting frameworks, ensuring alignment with best practices. 
  4. Plan Ahead 
    Wilder Carbon works with partners to secure long-term credit availability, enabling businesses to plan for their climate commitments well before 2030. 
  5. Make Accurate Green Claims 
    By adhering to the Wilder Carbon Standard, clients can ensure their claims about carbon are both precise and credible, avoiding the risks of greenwashing. 
  6. Co-operate to Support Market Growth 
    Collaboration is at the heart of Wilder Carbon. We work closely with stakeholders, including the UK government and industry leaders, to develop robust standards that enhance market integrity and proactively developing the market, further working with a broad of community of practice to ensure these standards are met in practice for the long-term. 

Driving Innovation with BSI and the BSI Flex 703 Carbon Standard 

Wilder Carbon has been at the forefront of efforts to embed integrity into the voluntary carbon market through active participation in the BSI Flex 703 Advisory Group. This emerging standard is shaping a new benchmark for carbon credits and green claims, ensuring nature-based solutions meet the highest levels of accountability and transparency. Our collaboration with BSI highlights our proactive role in designing frameworks that corporates can trust to deliver measurable impact for nature and climate. 

Wilder Carbon: Partnering for a Wilder Future 

As the voluntary carbon market evolves, Wilder Carbon remains steadfast in its mission to deliver trusted, nature-based solutions that address the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. The UK government’s announcement provides a clear mandate for integrity and action—principles that have always been at the core of our work. 

Together, we can build a future where nature thrives, and climate goals are met with credibility and purpose. Act now, plan wisely, and join us in driving transformative change through high-integrity nature markets.