Two-Thirds of Sustainability Professionals Trust Recognized Voluntary Carbon Market Standards but 46% Say Policy Clarity Is Needed to Scale

New report from SE Advisory Services shows that more than half of companies plan to scale engagement by 2030, marking a new phase of maturity in global carbon markets amid ESG uncertainty.

• 4 in 10 respondents say their organisations actively engage with high-integrity carbon credits through purchasing, investment or project development to manage climate risk, strengthen supply chain resilience, and build long-term strategic value
• 46% identify unclear policy and framework guidance as the top barrier to scale, followed by government policy uncertainty
• 55% plan to expand carbon credit engagement by 2030, while only 12% have no strategy in place

As ESG regulations face renewed political and economic headwinds, a new global survey by SE Advisory Services – Schneider Electric’s new global consulting branch - suggests a quiet but decisive shift: business leaders and sustainability professionals are confident in carbon credits as credible climate tools. The Carbon Credit Outlook 2025 finds that two-thirds of companies now use ICROA-endorsed standards and 55% apply the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM)’s Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) to assess project quality. This signals that the standards, verification systems and infrastructure for high-integrity carbon credits are firmly in place.

What was once a market clouded by skepticism has matured into one defined by structure and intent. Corporates now have the confidence, appetite, and resources to engage - and are actively doing so. Despite regulatory uncertainty, 40% of respondents report that their organizations are already engaged in carbon credit activity, using credits to manage climate risk, strengthen supply chain resilience, and create long-term value. Looking ahead, 55% plan to increase participation in the voluntary carbon market by 2030. Only 12% report not including carbon credits as part of their strategy. This growing engagement reflects a shift in perception: carbon credits are becoming strategic investments, with companies using them to satisfy climate commitments and targets and meet stakeholder expectations. 

“As global decarbonization demands unprecedented investment, with developing countries alone needing $1 trillion annually by 2030, carbon credits offer a proven mechanism for organisations to support verified climate action while building strategic value,” said Mathilde Mignot, Group Director, Nature & Technology-Based Solutions at SE Advisory Services.

“Something fundamental is changing in the way companies approach carbon credits. When nearly one in five respondents is developing their own projects, it’s clear the market is gaining momentum. These companies recognise that owning their carbon strategy means owning their climate story,” she adds. 

Companies are also rethinking the composition of their carbon portfolios, balancing near-term climate impact with long-term innovation. 

• Nature-based removal credits such as afforestation, reforestation, and ecosystem restoration remain the clear priority, with 50% of respondents identifying them as most important to their portfolios. Respondents say these projects deliver immediate climate impact while driving biodiversity and community co-benefits
• Avoidance and reduction credits, including forest protection, renewable energy, and energy efficiency projects, rank second, with 34% prioritizing them ahead of technology-based carbon removals
• Meanwhile, 16% of respondents now prioritise carbon credits issued from technology-based and hybrid removal methods such as direct air capture (DAC), bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), and biochar, which suggests a growing recognition of technology-based solutions as part of comprehensive climate strategies

Still, nearly half (46%) of respondents identify the lack of direction on integrating carbon credits with existing climate frameworks as their top barrier to scaling engagement, followed by government policy uncertainty (40%). These gaps, SE Advisory notes, risk slowing investment despite a strong corporate appetite to act.

“Corporate leaders are growing confident in today’s quality infrastructure but need clear guidance on how voluntary carbon credits complement compliance systems. Creating transparent pathways between voluntary action and regulatory or government-endorsed frameworks is the next step in enabling large-scale, credible corporate action,” said William Theisen, Commercial Director, Nature & Technology-Based Solutions at SE Advisory Services. 

“With COP30 in Belém just days away, we have a critical opportunity to establish these frameworks. The world will be watching for concrete mechanisms that unlock private capital at the scale climate science demands,” he adds.

With 37 jurisdictions now integrating carbon crediting or pricing systems into national policy, SE Advisory Services anticipates carbon pricing instruments to become central to corporate and governmental decarbonization strategies. Additionally, governmental coalitions have emerged in 2025 to strengthen voluntary carbon market mechanisms and harmonize quality standards. To turn confidence into impact, the report calls for governments, standard-setters, and investors to align around clear, high-integrity frameworks - enabling private capital to flow at the scale required to meet global net-zero goals.

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Notes

• The Carbon Credit Outlook 2025 is based on a 14-question anonymous survey conducted over six weeks, closing in July 2025.

Respondents represented nearly 30 nationalities and a diverse range of industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, banking, consumer goods, engineering and technical consultancies, heavy industry, legal and advisory firms, and public sector organisations.

• Nearly a third of respondents work in executive or leadership positions, a fifth as sustainability managers and officers, and a further fifth as consultants and advisors.
• Respondents working in governance, risk and compliance, climate and carbon specialisms, and finance were also represented, underscoring that the findings reflect professionals in positions to take and influence corporate decisions on climate and sustainability strategy.