London, UK — August 7, 2025 — Standard Chartered has signed a landmark five-year partnership with the Brazilian state of Acre to sell up to 5 million high-quality carbon credits annually, beginning in 2026. The credits, issued under the internationally recognized REDD+ framework and registered with the ART TREES registry, aim to prevent deforestation across Acre’s Amazon territory rather than relying solely on reforestation. This initiative represents one of the first collaborations where a global financial institution works directly with a sub-national government to finance forest conservation, setting a new precedent for high-integrity carbon markets.
The program is expected to generate approximately $150 million in revenue, with 72% of net proceeds earmarked for local and Indigenous communities, supporting initiatives such as low-emission livestock farming, sustainable forestry management, forest restoration, and community-based eco-tourism. The remaining funds will cover project administration, monitoring of forest preservation, and emergency response measures for climate-related threats. By combining financial innovation, environmental stewardship, and community engagement, the project aims not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also to promote sustainable economic development in the region, creating a replicable model for rainforest protection worldwide. More