U.S. Government Endorses High-Integrity Carbon Offsets, Boosting Voluntary Markets

In a landmark joint policy statement, cabinet secretaries and advisors across the U.S. Federal Government have strongly endorsed the vital role that high-quality carbon offsets can play in catalyzing climate action. This represents one of the most consequential developments for the US Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) in recent years.

The joint statement lays out clear principles for carbon credit integrity, calling for robust standards to ensure offsets represent real, additional, and verifiable emissions impacts. It highlights the need for credit-generating activities to avoid social and environmental harms while supporting transparent benefit-sharing.

At LandYield, our innovative platform and approach allows us to produce high-quality nature-based carbon reduction and removal credits from family forests through payments for harvest deferral. By adhering to standards and methodologies set out by the American Carbon Registry, our approach exemplifies the high-integrity principles outlined in the statement. 

Real, Quantifiable Climate Impact:

• LandYield offsets are generated through a clear, tangible action - deferring timber harvests. This delivers real, additional carbon sequestration beyond business-as-usual practices for our landowners.
• Carbon stocks and offset volumes are rigorously quantified using USDA Forest Service data and Finite Carbon’s innovative Core Carbon remote sensing model.
• Independent 3rd party verification of all projects against the robust requirements of the American Carbon Registry (ACR), whose program recently passed a major benchmark for high-quality offsets when it was approved as eligible under the IC-VCM’s Core Carbon Principles.

Avoid Harms & Provide Co-Benefits:

• Payments for deferring harvests on existing timber stands enable smaller landowners to enhance the ecological and recreational value of their family forestlands.
• Long-term sustainable revenue streams support rural communities and families.
• Adherence to forestry Best Management Practices ensures sustainability is maintained when management activities occur.

In publishing this statement and the associated principles, the Government has shown it recognizes VCMs as a meaningful tool to achieve net-zero emissions. It also specifically recognizes the potential for nature-based decarbonization to incentivize affordable carbon sequestration at scale while supporting vital social and environmental co-benefits.

LandYield welcomes this important policy signal from the highest level of government. We look forward to continuing to work with landowners and foresters to provide high-quality offsets that exemplify the integrity principles outlined, supporting nature-based decarbonization and rural communities.