Forest Carbon Accounting Dispute Hits Global Standard Setter

Global carbon standards are facing internal friction over how to count forest carbon. A dispute among experts over baseline and measurement methods has reached the standard setter that oversees many voluntary carbon market rules. The outcome could shift which forest projects qualify for credits and how much credit they receive. For project developers, the disagreement creates uncertainty around future revenue. For buyers, it raises questions about whether existing credits will hold their value if the accounting rules change. The standard setter's decision will likely influence how forest carbon is treated across voluntary and compliance markets. This story matters because forest carbon projects are among the most widely used offset types. When the rulebook is in dispute, it affects supply, pricing, and confidence in the entire market.