Naomi Conway, Co-Director of Revere and UK Director of Nature at Palladium, discusses the need for bold action for nature-based carbon removal in 2025 and explains how the Revere team is leading the way.
The deadline has recently passed for nature-based carbon project developers to submit offtake (carbon credit purchase) opportunities to Symbiosis, the mighty coalition of Meta, Microsoft, Google, Salesforce and McKinsey & Company.
This coalition of titans is offering something rare and precious to nature-based carbon project developers – an at-scale and long-term commitment to buy future carbon credits, underwriting high-impact nature restoration projects to drive positive outcomes for people and planet.
And there are scarce few such commitments around for nature-based carbon removal. This is a real problem. We know that investors are open to funding natural capital projects, liking both the positive impact and the potential returns that projects can deliver, but many are hesitating. Why? Some tell us that they will wait at the sidelines until they see firmer signs of buyer activity.
This is where Symbiosis and its advance market commitment to buy 20 million nature-based carbon removal credits is doing just what is needed – providing investor and project developer confidence and general market stimulation.
The buyer’s coalition is not providing upfront payments, rather a long-term commitment to pay on delivery of future carbon credits. This is what investors need to see as proof of market demand. They intend to ‘spur the next generation of high-impact nature restoration projects’ and I think they really will achieve that.
Scaling action
2025 needs to be the year that more buyers follow suit, announcing their intentions to buy carbon credits generated through responsible nature restoration, such as woodland planting and peatland restoration. These commitments will unlock investor finance and capitalise on the growing pipeline of superb quality nature projects that is building within the UK.
As a developer of UK nature-based projects that remove carbon at scale, we want to see more advance market commitments and major offtakes from companies with credible net-zero strategies. Our flagship woodland and peatland restoration projects have been developed together with UK National Parks through our Revere collaboration, and we have projects ready for investment or carbon offtake right now. A great example is the South Downs Woodland Project.
Case study: South Downs Woodland Project
The South Downs National Park stretches across 1,648 sq. km of rolling chalk grassland and lowland heath in the South East of England. The National Park has set an ambitious target for 33% of its area to be managed for nature by 2030 through its ReNature initiative.
The South Downs National Park Authority wanted to find a way to accelerate and deliver a landscape-scale woodland planting initiative that is in line with their local vision, and is suitable for private finance. So, they worked together with the Revere team to create a model that would not only deliver landscape changes that meet the highest ecological standards, but also one that can offer a competitive, ethical and secure livelihood opportunity for existing land managers and farmers.
With investment in place, Phase One will remove 215,650+ tonnes of CO₂ by creating 1,000 hectares of new woodland designed to connect existing isolated woodland blocks, creating thriving habitat corridors and supporting iconic local flora and fauna such as the green woodpecker and barbastelle bat. The tree planting will also improve soil health and mitigate flood and drought risks.
The project will generate a long-term supply of high-integrity carbon credits verified by the UK Woodland Carbon Code, providing a trusted option for investors and carbon credit purchasers.
The South Downs Woodland Project is a huge opportunity for the next Symbiosis, major corporate offtaker or nature-committed investor seeking to make 2025 the year that they catalyse nature. Now is the time to plan ahead, make bold commitments and to step into nature-based solutions with confidence.
If you would like to discuss the corporate purchase of Woodland Carbon Credits or investment opportunities for this project, please contact Ross Powell at ross.powell@thepalladiumgroup.com
This article has also been published by edie.
