Cercarbono Wins World's Best Carbon Credit Programme Award for Second Consecutive Year

Cercarbono, the certification standard behind Canopée's Yuxibu 2 and Itxawá projects, was voted best "GHG Crediting Programme / Standards Setter" in the world in the Voluntary Carbon Market Rankings 2026, by Environmental Finance. This is the second consecutive time that Cercarbono has won this position: in 2025, it had been the first Latin American-headquartered institution to reach the top of this category.

Recognition by the Market Itself

The detail that lends weight to the award is how it is decided. It is not a closed jury: the ranking arises from a survey among actual market participants — project developers, validators and verifiers, credit buyers, and public policy professionals. In other words, it is the market assessing, in practice, whom it trusts to guarantee the integrity of the credits bought and sold.

Pillars of Recognition: Innovation and Global South Perspective

The award recognizes three central fronts of Cercarbono's work: methodological innovation in nature-based solutions (such as forestry projects) and technological removals, operational proximity with project developers in emerging economies, and a governance model designed from the perspective of the Global South, where the majority of the world's carbon projects are implemented.

Scale and Presence in Forestry Projects

Cercarbono was founded in Latin America in 2016. Today, it has 194 registered projects across 21 countries, covering Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, with a strong presence in forestry and REDD+ projects, the category that includes the Yuxibu 2 and Itxawá projects developed with Canopée's support. This consistent growth underpins the award: a standard only consolidates repeated market trust when the quality and integrity of certification keep pace with scaling.

Alignment with the Core Carbon Principles (ICVCM)

In the same period, the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM), the benchmark international body that sets integrity criteria for the voluntary carbon market, confirmed Cercarbono as eligible for the Core Carbon Principles (CCP) at the programme level. In plain terms, CCP is a compliance seal certifying that the standard's governance, certification processes, and safeguards meet the highest integrity and quality criteria in the sector.

Security and Transparency for Corporate Buyers

For those considering purchasing carbon credits, the credibility and robustness of the certifying standard are just as decisive as the quality of the project itself. A standard recognized by the market ecosystem itself, with internationally validated governance and a track record of responsible growth, significantly reduces the risk of a credit losing value or reputation due to certification weaknesses. It is this institutional robustness that backs the forest carbon credits offered by Canopée and reflects our ongoing commitment to integrity, transparency, and traceability across every conserved ton.