13 February 2025

Tips to help rural businesses navigate voluntary carbon markets

Drive to net zero

Guidance for rural enterprises to navigate voluntary carbon markets to offset emissions as part of the drive to net zero has been produced from research funded by the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE). 

The animated 10 tips are designed to help landowners, farmers, businesses and communities make the most out of opportunities. They seek to address findings which point to the need for clearer ethical guidelines, stronger and meaningful partnerships with rural communities, and better support for diverse land ownership models. 

The study, carried out by researchers at the University of the West of England Bristol, Bournemouth University, the Countryside and Community Research Institute and Harper Adams University examined the accessibility and inclusivity of voluntary carbon markets for rural enterprises. 

 

Watch the animation

The 10 tips are: 

  1. Assess broader implications 
  2. Choose the right standards 
  3. Plan for contingencies 
  4. Ensure quality verification 
  5. Consider your options 
  6. Reflect on ‘greenwashing’ 
  7. Know your market 
  8. Consider upfront payments 
  9. Validate your projects 
  10. Plan for planting 

The animation concludes: “Your land can do more than just produce, it can also play a part in building a sustainable future. The UK voluntary carbon market provides a solid opportunity. By keeping these ten tips in mind, you can make well-informed decisions, contribute climate efforts and ensure you get a fair return on your investment.” 

Thumbnail carbon credits

Participatory workshops

The research examined the current governance frameworks in the UK – the Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) and the Peatland Code (PC) – and experiences of rural enterprises participating in voluntary carbon markets through workshops. See the Research Report Evaluating the accessibility and inclusivity of voluntary carbon markets for rural enterprises in the UK.

The report authors are Dr Rounaq Nayak, Professor Damian Maye, Professor Julie Ingram, Professor Karl Behrendt, Professor Jian Chang and Dr Ehtzaz Chaudhary. 

The project is one of seven commissioned by NICRE to examine how rural enterprises are adapting to the major challenges affecting the economy. 

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