Kenya Becomes First African Nation to Establish Deforestation-Reduction Project Registry

By Nathan Abbington

Cover Image Attribute: Agricultural countryside in Kenya, with the surrounding hills of Kapsowar and Mt. Kipkinurr visible in the background. / Source: Wikimedia Commons

Kenya has taken a significant step forward in combating climate change by becoming the first African nation to build a REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) project registry. The new system, set to be operational by the second quarter of 2025, aims to assist in the country's climate goals and provide long-term tracking of carbon credits generated through sustainable forest management and deforestation reduction projects. This registry will not only help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also in promoting sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, and the livelihoods of local communities.
The newly established registry is a game-changer, enabling the comprehensive tracking of carbon credits linked to emissions-reduction measures such as forest conservation, sustainable management, and carbon stock enhancement. This innovative system, with its emphasis on transparency and reliability, is set to bolster confidence in the carbon markets, solidifying Africa's role as a significant contributor to the global fight against greenhouse gas emissions.

“We look forward to working with S&P Global Commodity Insights and believe its Environmental Registry is a smart solution for building our registry because of its security, customization to our needs and readiness,” said George Tarus, Agriculture Forest Conservation Secretary, Kenya State Department for Forestry. “We are proud to be one of the first, if not the first African nation to create a national registry of REDD+ projects that reduce deforestation and decrease carbon emissions, but one that will in turn help generate new revenue streams for us and our local communities.”

“This is a significant milestone for Kenya as it seeks to establish an enabling environment to mobilize climate finance for Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) implementation in the Forestry Sector. It is also in line with the established legal and regulatory framework established under the Climate Change Act,” said Psamson Nzioki, Programme Manager, Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ at Conservation International.

The development of this cutting-edge environmental registry is in safe hands. S&P Global Commodity Insights, a leading provider of data and analytics in energy markets, has been chosen by Conservation International and the Kenyan government for this crucial task. The collaboration is designed to meet the growing demand for climate action while mobilizing funds for Kenya's forestry sector, which is in line with the country's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
Jonty Rushforth, Head of Environmental Solutions, S&P Global Commodity Insights, said, “We applaud the important step that Kenya is taking in registry development and the example it sets for Africa more broadly. We are honored to be selected to provide the registry technology, and look forward to working with both the Kenyan government and Conservation International.” 
According to research by S&P Global, Africa contributed less than 10% to global greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, a figure projected to remain steady through 2030. Yet, Kenya stands out for its leadership in the voluntary carbon market, having issued more carbon credits from REDD+ projects than any other African country. This leadership not only underscores Kenya's commitment to environmental sustainability but also serves as a compelling reason for the relaunch of S&P Global's Environmental Registry. 
S&P Global’s Environmental Registry, a trusted platform for carbon, water, and biodiversity projects for over 15 years, is being relaunched with exciting new features. The registry-as-a-service platform will now offer even greater efficiency, ease of use, and customization, revolutionizing the way we track climate contributions and avoid double-counting carbon credits, particularly in Kenya.
Using the Environmental Registry, Kenya will also have access to S&P Global’s Meta Registry®, a centralized platform that links different registries and exchanges worldwide. This innovative tool is designed to promote greater transparency and collaboration, ensuring the integrity of the system and the credibility of our collective efforts.
For additional information on Environmental Registry, click here.
With reporting by The Gulf Intelligence

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