Ghana has become the first African country to issue carbon credits under the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) TREES standard, marking a significant milestone in its efforts to attract climate finance through forest conservation.
The achievement was announced at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Türkiye, where Ghana formally marked its first carbon credit issuance under the standard.
The milestone represents progress in the country’s efforts to translate forest conservation and reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation into results-based climate finance.
At the launch, Ghana’s Ambassador to Türkiye acknowledged the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other carbon market partners in helping the country move from programme readiness to the operationalisation of its jurisdictional REDD+ programme.
The issuance is expected to create opportunities for Ghana to mobilise climate finance through verified emissions reductions while strengthening forest protection and supporting communities that depend on forest resources.
The ART TREES standard provides a framework for measuring, reporting and verifying emissions reductions from forest protection programmes at jurisdictional level.
Ghana’s achievement also highlights the growing role of carbon markets in financing climate action, particularly efforts to reduce deforestation and forest degradation.
The development places Ghana among countries seeking to use verified forest-based emissions reductions to attract climate investment while advancing their climate and environmental commitments.
