Climate change is expected to impact people in developing countries in significant ways, including dramatically changing water and energy availability. Carbon finance markets exist to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide through economic incentives, while allowing clean development. However, the carbon markets have not yet been well utilized for humanitarian technologies in least developed countries. For example, the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism is a multi-billion dollar a year industry, yet less than 2% of that benefits African nations. Meanwhile, the voluntary markets, led by the Gold Standard Registry, are working to demonstrate significant impact in rural communities around the world.
These markets are not easily accessible to smaller non-profits, companies, or even countries. The process of developing a rigorous project that maintains environmental integrity typically costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, and can take several years. While the idea of carbon finance appeals to many in this field, the barriers are significant.
Manna is working to make the markets more accessible for humanitarian development projects, and has demonstrated this through our own projects and through consulting arrangements with other organizations. Manna is also an important contributor to developing improved methodologies on both the compliance and voluntary markets that will aid future projects.
Manna collaborates directly with the United Nations Development Program Millennium Development Goal Carbon Facility, the Gold Standard, national governments and other project partners to improve accessibility to this field.