CT-XS-001 — Carbon Markets & Credits

Description

Voluntary and compliance carbon markets, including carbon credit generation, verification, trading, and retirement. Covers project-based mechanisms (REDD+, clean energy, cookstoves), results-based payments, and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Colombia has one of the most developed voluntary carbon markets in Latin America, with the Bolsa Mercantil de Colombia hosting carbon credit trading.

Colombia Context

Ley 2169 de 2021 Art. 4 establishes Colombia's national carbon market, creating the legal framework for carbon credit generation, verification, and trading. Art. 5 allows companies to offset their national carbon tax (impuesto al carbono, $5/tCO2e) by purchasing certified carbon credits. The Registro Nacional de Reducción de Emisiones GEI (RENARE) managed by MinAmbiente tracks all carbon credit projects. The Bolsa Mercantil de Colombia has listed voluntary carbon credits since 2019, with annual trading volume exceeding 5 million tCO2e by 2025. Colombia hosts over 150 registered carbon credit projects, primarily in REDD+ forestry (Amazon, Pacific), improved cookstoves (Andean region), and renewable energy. ICONTEC NTC 6208 provides the national standard for carbon credit verification. Colombia actively participates in Article 6 bilateral agreements, with signed letters of intent with Switzerland, South Korea, and the UK for carbon credit transfers.

EUDR Relevance

Indirect EUDR relevance: REDD+ carbon credit projects in the Amazon and Pacific regions overlap with EUDR deforestation-free commodity sourcing zones. Carbon credits from avoided deforestation must demonstrate additionality independently of EUDR compliance obligations — EUDR due diligence cannot be used as a carbon credit baseline.

CTH Data Coverage

Two CLP cohort companies generate carbon credits: one in forestry/REDD+ (Pacific region) and one in improved cookstoves (Nariño). CTH market intelligence tracks Colombia's carbon market through Bolsa Mercantil data. Sustenttia diagnostics include carbon footprint estimation and carbon credit readiness assessment for enterprises.

Green Finance Alignment

TVC recognizes carbon markets as cross-cutting enabling infrastructure. Carbon credit revenues are a key finance mechanism for nature-based solutions and community energy projects. The World Bank's Partnership for Market Readiness has supported Colombia's carbon market development since 2013. Bancolombia launched a carbon-neutral investment fund in 2024 using voluntary credits sourced through the Bolsa Mercantil.

{
  "origo_id": "CT-XS-001",
  "origo_label": "Carbon Markets & Credits",
  "sector": "XS",
  "source": "origo",
  "cpi_aligned": "Carbon markets and pricing \u2014 voluntary and compliance",
  "eu_taxonomy_aligned": "N \u2014 carbon markets are not directly covered by EU Taxonomy activity classifications",
  "cbi_eligible": "N \u2014 CBI does not certify carbon credits directly, though projects generating credits may be CBI-eligible",
  "iea_aligned": "N \u2014 carbon markets are outside IEA ETCS scope (policy instrument, not technology)",
  "col_gf_sector": "Transversal",
  "col_gf_activity": "Mercados de carbono y generaci\u00f3n de cr\u00e9ditos de carbono verificados",
  "col_gf_aligned": "Y",
  "col_ndc2030_aligned": "Y \u2014 Ley 2169 Art. 4 establishes the national carbon market framework; carbon pricing supports NDC implementation",
  "col_sisclima_relevant": "Y",
  "col_ley2169": "Y \u2014 Art. 4 carbon markets; Art. 5 carbon tax offset; Art. 6 registry requirements",
  "latam_colombia": "Y",
  "cth_clp_coverage": "Y \u2014 2 CLP companies generate voluntary carbon credits (forestry, cookstoves)",
  "cth_data_coverage": "Y",
  "schema_version": "1.1",
  "last_updated": "2026-05-27"
}