A new Pledge for high integrity carbon credits: France strengthens its climate commitment

On April 24, 2025, during the ChangeNOW summit at the Grand Palais in Paris, the French Minister for Ecological Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, presented an ambitious Pledge aimed at regulating the use of carbon credits by companies.

This initiative follows on from the progress made at COP29, which established international standards to ensure the integrity of carbon markets. On this occasion, 17 major companies - including EDF, Capgemini, Schneider Electric, Ardian, and others - signed the Pledge, committing to use only carbon credits whose integrity is guaranteed.

A Pledge for integrity carbon credits

The Pledge is built on two core commitments:

• Priority to real decarbonization: Signatory companies pledge to reduce their direct and indirect emissions (scopes 1, 2, and 3) along a net-zero pathway validated by an independent third party. Carbon credits should only be used to offset residual emissions, not as a substitute for reduction efforts.

• Use of high-integrity carbon credits: The credits must align with the standards set out in Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement and the principles of the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM). This ensures the use of credits from projects that are additional, permanent, independently verified, and free from double counting.

  
  

This Pledge aims to establish a clear and robust framework for the use of carbon credits, thereby enhancing the credibility of corporate climate commitments. By aligning with international standards, France seeks to promote a more transparent, effective, and equitable carbon market, capable of financing high-impact projects in developing countries.

A central role of businesses in the climate transition

Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister for Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, the Sea, and Fisheries, emphasized the importance of this initiative:

"With the climate emergency, international cooperation is more essential than ever. To reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, we must mobilize every available lever. Businesses have a key role to play in this dynamic: by financing high-impact projects in developing countries, they help build a credible, equitable, and economically effective carbon market, complementing their own decarbonization efforts. I repeat my call to them: get involved!"

This statement highlights the crucial role of companies in the fight against climate change, by combining internal emission reductions with support for high-quality external projects. The message is clear: both actions must be pursued jointly in order to accelerate the transition to a decarbonized world, in line with the Paris Agreement.

Towards a more transparent and effective carbon market

The Pledge comes in a context where carbon markets have often been criticized for a lack of transparency and inconsistent project quality. By establishing strict criteria and relying on internationally recognized standards, France aims to restore trust in these mechanisms and encourage broader corporate participation.

This initiative could serve as a model for other countries seeking to structure their own carbon markets and ensure the integrity of the credits being used. It also underscores the need for stronger international cooperation to achieve global climate goals.

"The challenge is to bring together as many companies as possible so that they position themselves on this market" the Minister said on BFM Business.

"Carbon credits allow us to move faster and seek greater efficiency". "From now on, the State is the guarantor of the method and of the process".

At Apolownia, we welcome this initiative led by the French government and the first signatories of the pledge for a Paris-aligned and high-integrity use of carbon credits. As a committed developer of nature-based projects, we fully share the values upheld by this charter: prioritizing emission reductions, ensuring transparency in credit usage, and maintaining strong environmental and social integrity. We support this collective momentum, which seeks to restore credibility in voluntary carbon markets and channel funding toward projects that generate real, lasting impact for the climate, biodiversity, and local communities.

ABOUT APOLOWNIA

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We support businesses and funds willing to engage in long-term and impactful decarbonization strategies - within and beyond their own value chain - by designing, implementing and monitoring science-based carbon reduction projects that restore natural ecosystems. 

Through technology and innovative solutions, we aim at shaping a resilient and environmentally friendly world, by encouraging the decarbonization of the economy and supporting social and environmental initiatives.

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