Unlocking Trust and Capital as Africa’s Carbon Markets Come of Age
Africa’s carbon future is hurtling into focus, and come October, Johannesburg will take centre stage. From 21 to 23 October 2025, the Carbon Markets Africa Summit (CMAS) will bring together the entire carbon value chain in a bid to transform climate ambition into tangible action, investment and, crucially, trust.
Hosted by the seasoned event organisers at VUKA Group, this year’s summit promises to chart a bold course for high-integrity, African-led carbon markets.
Backed by heavyweight supporters like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Germany’s GIZ, the event isn’t just a forum for discussion—it’s a launchpad for action.
Africa’s Defining Moment on the Global Carbon Stage
Kicking off on Day 1, the opening session sets the tone with a challenge and a promise: Africa now has the opportunity to define its own carbon narrative. With the continent rich in natural assets, renewable resources, and community-driven climate projects, it could become the world’s carbon sink and sustainability beacon.
Confirmed speakers include influential names such as:
- Iain Banner, Chairman, South Africa
- Fenella Aouane, Global Green Growth Institute, Luxembourg
- Maxwell Gomera, UNDP
- Javier Manzanares, Allen Manza, Panama
- Caroline Tixier, EU Delegation to South Africa
- Angela Churie Kallhauge, Environmental Defense Fund, USA
Each will explore how carbon market growth must sync with climate resilience, social equity and sustainable development goals. This isn’t about cutting corners; it’s about ensuring integrity, alignment, and accountability at every step.
Aligning with the Bigger Picture
One of the summit’s focal panels “Road to COP30: Aligning Africa’s Carbon Strategy with Global Agendas,” dives into how African frameworks can nest within global mechanisms such as Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Delegates from GMEX Group, Verra, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI) will compare notes and align visions.
This discussion could not come at a more critical time. As global climate policy intensifies, Africa must carve out its space—not as a passive recipient of funding, but as a leader offering scalable, high-integrity carbon solutions.
Turning Words into Carbon Wins
For African countries, the shift from ambition to implementation hinges on regulatory clarity. The session “Turning Policy into Action” will spotlight how national strategies are evolving post-COP29 and what Article 6 integration really looks like on the ground.
Expect robust engagement from:
- UNDP
- Government of Nigeria
- South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
- Zambia’s Ministry of Green Economy and Environment
- Uganda’s Climate Change Department
The panel will unpack how legal frameworks, inter-ministerial coordination and private sector engagement can create a ripple effect of effective climate action across the continent.
Trust, Transparency and Standards
A critical challenge for carbon markets—globally and especially in emerging regions like Africa—has been integrity. Olivia Tuchten, Principal Climate Change Advisor at Promethium, will lead a session that confronts these concerns head-on.
With experts from Verra, Gold Standard and Anthesis, the panel will scrutinise verification, validation and oversight frameworks.
“Carbon markets have suffered from a trust deficit. By strengthening standards and ensuring accountability, we can build a system that benefits people and the planet,” said one panellist in a recent pre-event interview.
Expect a fiery and future-focused dialogue.
Day 2: Investors, Get Ready to Roll Up Your Sleeves
The second day of CMAS shifts gears into more intimate investor roundtables titled “Connecting Climate Capital with Scalable Carbon Solutions.” Here, climate investors will present their funds and strategies directly to project developers and capital partners. It’s where funding meets feasibility.
The headline keynote, “Financing Africa’s Carbon Pipeline: Derisking, Scaling and Innovating,” will bring together:
- Shell Nature-Based Solutions
- Standard Bank
- MIGA
- South Pole
- AfDB
Jonathan First, Senior Advisor at the Climate Policy Initiative, will also unpack a key issue: how to unlock private capital for Africa’s carbon opportunities. He’ll be joined by financiers from TransEnergy Global, FSD Africa, JP Morgan and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
This isn’t just theory. It’s investment matchmaking with serious financial muscle.
Pre-Summit ‘Carbon 101’ Masterclass
Before the summit officially kicks off, the 21st of October will feature a ‘Carbon 101’ masterclass tailored for investors, developers, and policymakers who may be new to the sector—or looking to deepen their understanding. The session will decode international carbon standards, outline Africa’s evolving policy ecosystem, and lay down the fundamentals of project development and investment.
Led by expert facilitators, the session promises to be both accessible and rigorous, providing attendees with the practical tools to navigate this fast-evolving space.
Trust as the Currency of Change
As CMAS leans into its vision of catalysing transparent, accountable carbon ecosystems, the spotlight will fall on Dominic Wilhelm, Executive Director of the Global Trust Project. He’ll lead a high-impact dialogue aimed at bridging fragmentation in the market.
Wilhelm explains the urgency: “While the current value of carbon markets as of 2023 is about $950 billion, within the next 10 years, it’s going to be worth $16 trillion. However, the full value chain is fragmented and not transparent. Therefore, it must come together in a high-level dialogue—trust plays a key role to solve these challenges.”
A Summit With Long-Term Impact
The CMAS 2025 programme isn’t simply a gathering. It’s a clarion call for Africa’s stakeholders to take charge of their carbon destiny. By anchoring trust, transparency, and tangible investment outcomes, the summit could very well set a new standard for how climate finance and market mechanisms are mobilised across the Global South.
Event Details:
- Pre-Summit Masterclass: 21 October 2025
- Summit Dates: 22–23 October 2025
- Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Building the Future, One Tonne at a Time
Africa’s carbon markets are no longer a future opportunity—they’re a present reality brimming with untapped potential. With the right frameworks, financial backers, and a collective commitment to high-integrity action, the continent could lead the global south into a new era of climate resilience and sustainable prosperity.
And if Carbon Markets Africa 2025 delivers on its promise, Africa’s role in the global carbon dialogue won’t just be recognised. It’ll be redefined.
