Standard Chartered has signed a five-year agreement with the Government of Acre, Brazil, to market up to 5 million jurisdictional forest carbon credits from 2026, marking one of the first collaborations between a global bank and a sub-national government to support large-scale forest conservation.
The credits, aimed at preventing deforestation across Acre’s territory in the Amazon rainforest, will be registered under the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) using its verified TREES methodology—endorsed by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM).
Unlike project-based credits, jurisdictional credits are managed at the government level and encompass an entire region. Standard Chartered will serve as the exclusive seller of these high-integrity credits, offering a model that could be replicated across other jurisdictions to scale forest protection and climate action.
Proceeds from the credit sales will follow a benefit-sharing plan:
- 72% to indigenous and local communities for sustainable agriculture, reforestation, and eco-tourism
- 28% to project governance, monitoring, and emergency response
The deal is grounded in community consultation held in May 2025 across Acre’s five regions, incorporating feedback from indigenous peoples, local communities, and farmers.
Acre’s programme is undergoing an independent evaluation by carbon data provider Sylvera, marking the first such third-party review for a Brazilian jurisdiction under ART-TREES. The move aims to bolster market trust and transparency.
The initiative supports COP30 goals to scale climate finance for forest protection and aligns with Brazil’s national commitment to halt deforestation by 2030.
Marisa Drew, Chief Sustainability Officer, Standard Chartered said, “We’re leveraging our global network and carbon market expertise to offer a means to help preserve standing forests that act as vital carbon sinks.”
Amarisio Freitas, Secretary of the Treasury, State of Acre highlighted, “This arrangement will bring economic and social benefits to the people of Acre, while protecting our natural resources and supporting traditional communities.”
“Standard Chartered is proud to support this vision by building credible, scalable carbon market solutions for our markets,” stated Germana Cruz, CEO & Head of Financial Institutions, LATAM, Standard Chartered.
