One Carbon World (OCW), a non-profit focused on carbon reduction and verification, has been named the official climate impact partner for the Carbon Markets Africa Summit (CMAS 2025) in Johannesburg this October, where it will measure the event’s emissions footprint in a bid to bring greater transparency to Africa’s fast-evolving carbon markets.
The summit, taking place from 22 to 23 October with a pre-summit day on the 21st, is expected to attract regulators, investors, development organizations, and project developers. Organizers say bringing OCW on board is part of their effort to set a standard for how climate-focused events are run, not just what they discuss.
OCW’s remit is to measure and assess the carbon footprint of the gathering, covering everything from venue use and logistics to travel and energy consumption. For the group’s Africa Director, Madeleine Garlick, the work is not about symbolism but about producing clear evidence. “We will be tracking the footprint of CMAS and providing information that allows VUKA Group to assess and reduce emissions at future events,” she said. “Reliable data is the only way to measure progress.”
The timing is significant. Africa’s carbon markets are drawing unprecedented attention, with investors eyeing the continent’s potential to generate high-quality credits while policymakers race to put in place frameworks that ensure value is retained locally. Research from the MSCI Sustainability Institute indicates that commitments to buy nature-based credits tripled in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with average prices reaching $50 per tone. That appetite, however, is uneven across the continent. Some countries are developing detailed national frameworks for voluntary and Article 6 markets, while others are still at the starting line.
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Garlick argues that collaboration is the deciding factor in whether Africa’s carbon markets grow at scale. “Partnerships at every level are essential,” she said. “Between companies and project implementers, between governments and investors, and with communities at the grassroots. Without them, the market risks being fragmented and failing to deliver value where it matters most.”
Examples of that local value are already visible. OCW has supported businesses and communities across Africa, from advising agribusinesses on renewable energy adoption to training smallholder farmers in soil data collection. In one case, an East African vegetable grower cut its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 80 percent against a 2021 baseline after integrating biomass, solar, and efficiency technologies identified during an OCW-led emissions inventory. Such case studies, Garlick says, show how credible data and clear targets can lead to measurable gains.
At the core of OCW’s work is monitoring, reporting and verification, known in the industry as MRV. These systems are essential for ensuring carbon reductions and removals are measurable and credible. Without them, carbon credits risk losing trust among buyers and investors. “Carbon data is essentially management data,” Garlick noted. “Without it, businesses can’t plan, communities can’t negotiate fairly, and investors won’t commit.” She points out that many verification schemes still rely on models built on data from outside Africa, which can fail to capture local realities. OCW and other organizations are calling for more investment in African research institutions to bridge these evidence gaps.
For OCW, applying MRV to CMAS itself is not simply an exercise in record keeping. It is a way to show that the same standards expected of the carbon market can be applied to large-scale events. Andrew Bowen, OCW’s Chief Executive, said that foot printing summits of this scale has already proven effective elsewhere. “It sets benchmarks and creates accountability that can be tracked,” he said. “It helps move sustainability from rhetoric to measurable action.”
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By partnering with OCW, organizers of CMAS are attempting to demonstrate that Africa’s leading carbon market forum is prepared to hold itself to account. For participants, the message is clear: the standards being debated in Johannesburg will also apply to the event itself.
As momentum around carbon markets builds, the summit will be closely watched as both an investment forum and a test case for credibility. For Garlick, the direction is clear. “The African carbon market is vibrant and full of potential,” she said. “But without partnerships, without reliable data, and without clear frameworks, that potential will not translate into trust or investment.”
With its own carbon footprint under review, CMAS 2025 will show whether Africa’s flagship carbon markets summit can move beyond discussion and demonstrate practical accountability.
