A new market in nature credits needs the best start possible.
Learn More"US$9.5 trillion is needed cumulatively from 2022 to 2050 to keep climate change below 2°C, stabilise biodiversity levels and achieve land degradation neutrality."
UNEP State of Finance for Nature, 2022
Alongside a strengthened carbon market, a biodiversity credit market is in the early stages of being established. This market needs to be efficient and robust if it is to align private sector finance with nature positive goals and achieve just and equitable outcomes.
Why the Biodiversity Credit Alliance has been formed
The Biodiversity Credit Alliance (BCA) exists to provide guidance for the establishment of a credible and scalable market that stands up to the scrutiny of multiple stakeholders. Key among them are Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities at the frontline of the biodiversity crisis. Together we’re working to ensure strong foundations and principles exist and can be applied by all market participants going forward.
Who we are
We’re a group of scientists, academics, conservation practitioners, and standard setters, with direct links to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities on our Communities Advisory Panel (CAP). We embrace participation from the private sector, with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development as a key partner. BCA is dynamic, open, and growing, and we welcome new members.
Our Mission
BCA is a voluntary international alliance that brings together diverse stakeholders to support the realisation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, in particular Targets 19(c) and (d), which “encourage the private sector to invest in biodiversity” utilising, amongst others “biodiversity credits … with social safeguards.”
Our mission is twofold:
- Help steer the development of a voluntary biodiversity credit market by building a framework of high-level, science-based principles.
- Provide guidance and encourage best practice for market participants on the application of these principles, empowering them to achieve and maintain equitable, high quality transactions that meet strict integrity criteria.
What we are working on
BCA has established Working Groups to define and develop relevant concepts to best assist the formulation of a transparent and trusted market. Working Group members have at all times endeavored to balance out the urgency of the moment with the need for rigor, consultation and due diligence. BCA thanks all participants and contributors for their positive and collaborative spirit. BCA also welcomes further participation and engagement from stakeholders not yet represented.
Learning from local knowledge
Definitions
Demand-side dynamics
Quality and integrity
A digital approach
Standard setters
Creating guardrails
BCA’s Vision
BCA’s vision is a transparent, trustworthy and efficient global market in biodiversity credits founded on just and equitable principles, and underpinned by innovation.
BCA works to facilitate the transition to a nature positive economy aided by an integrated, efficient and scaled voluntary biodiversity credit (VBC) market. BCA considers biodiversity credits to be an effective complement to, but not a replacement of, the private sector’s supply chain transformation efforts. BCA views biodiversity credits as an effective mechanism for advancing the private sector’s participation in ecosystem remediation and transformative landscape approaches in line with science-based principles.
BCA Task Force Members
BCA Forum Members