The Democratic Republic of Congo has enacted an ordinance-law that establishes a legal framework for its carbon market and creates a national sovereign carbon registry. The law, signed by President Tshisekedi on 7 September 2026, aims to regulate voluntary carbon activities and support Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The registry is expected to be unveiled at COP31 in Antalya. A key driver is the gap between what Congolese carbon credits currently sell for, around $5 per tonne under a World Bank forest programme, and prices closer to $40 per tonne seen in some bilateral Article 6 deals. Officials argue that a verifiable national system of record will help the country capture more value from its forest assets and move beyond reliance on external consultants.
