Agenda – Carbon Forward Expo London 2026

08.00  Registration and coffee

09.00  Opening remarks from Carbon Forward  

Host of the morning sessions:
Sara Stefanini, EMEA Policy Editor, Carbon Pulse 

09.10 Keynote opening – UK climate change and global cooperation

• Keep calm and carbon-on. As others pull back Europe and the UK continue to chart new territory to tackle climate change through carbon pricing.

Presenter:
Rachel Kyte, UK Special Representative on Climate, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

09.20  Article 6 and COP 30: What’s in store

• New NDCs make clear: countries are looking to Article 6 to help meet NDC targets, and draw investment to developing countries. What are the risks of using Article 6 for NDCs, what are the opportunities? And what are we expecting from COP 30?

Moderator:
Sara Stefanini, EMEA Climate Policy Editor, Carbon Pulse 

Presenters:
Fenella Aouane, Managing Director, Head of Carbon Finance, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)
Andrea Bonzanni, International Policy Director, International Emissions Trading Association (IETA)

10.00  The next generation of carbon markets: Unpacking the PACM

• With progress on the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) on course to see the first credits issued this year, how are governments and investors looking at the new UN-backed market as a means of driving up carbon finance?

Moderator:
Roy Manuell, EMEA Markets Editor, Carbon Pulse

Presenter:
El Hadji Mbaye Diagne, Lead Reviewer of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, UNFCCC

Panellists:
Sebastien Cross, Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer, BeZero Carbon
Axel Michaelowa, Senior Founding Partner, Perspectives Climate Group
Isa Mulder, Policy Expert on Global Carbon Markets, Carbon Market Watch
Alex Rau, General Partner, Environmental Commodity Partners LP

11.00  Morning coffee and start-up Pitch Hub

11.30  Carbon pricing Dragon’s Den: APAC 

• Cast your vote on where you would invest in the expanding carbon markets across the APAC region. Our panellists will share their thoughts on the growth potential of China, where what could become the world’s largest carbon pricing scheme is charting a course for expansion; of South Korea; as well as several other key markets, including how VCMs are converging with different compliance markets within APAC. Opportunity will be weighed up against a policy, price and credit integrity outlook to determine where our experts see the highest potential

Moderator:
Frederic Simon, Head of EMEA, Carbon Pulse

Panellists:
Geoffrey Seeto, Senior Managing Director, New Forests
Yongzhi (Sean) Shao, Head of Global BD and Trading, Cypress New Energy
Suhyun You, Managing Partner, ATR

12.15  Bem-vindo to the Brazil ETS

• As Brazil gears up to host COP30, this session will consider the investment opportunities arising from the country’s new cap-and-trade carbon market, such as the risks and rewards on offer linked to rising demand over the coming years, as well as the expected inclusion of carbon offsets within the scheme

Moderator:
Bill Pazos, Co-founder and Co-CEO, Air Carbon Exchange (ACX)

Panellists:
Munir Soares, CEO, Systemica Digital
Ana Luci Grizzi, Founder, ALG Climate & Natural Capital Governance

12.45  Climate policy and carbon pricing of Türkiye

• What’s coming next and what are the future opportunities?

Presenter:
Orhan Solak, Vice President of Climate Change, Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, Turkiye

12.45  Lunch and start-up Pitch Hub

Host of the afternoon sessions:
Sonja van Renssen, Chief Strategy Officer, Carbon Pulse 

14.00  Donald Trump: The art of the repeal

• The session explores how Donald Trump’s presidency undermined both domestic and international climate efforts, particularly carbon market development. Key topics include the US withdrawal from Paris and the chilling effect on Article 6 negotiations and global carbon pricing cooperation. It also considers the lasting consequences of this disengagement for investor confidence, multilateral trust, and America’s role in climate diplomacy

Moderator:
Luke Sideropoulous, Carbon Market Analyst – North American Markets, Veyt AS

Panellists:
David Manley, Lead, Green Fiscal Policy, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
Alex Rau, General Partner, Environmental Commodity Partners LP

14.30  Africa advancing

• African countries are racing to attract carbon projects and developers, in the hopes of finally raising climate finance. LoAs, registries, legislation, African nations are leading the way on Article 6 and leaving the VCM in its wake

Moderator:
Sara Stefanini, EMEA Climate Policy Editor, Carbon Pulse 

Panellists:
Daniel Tutu Benefoh, Lead, Mitigation, GHG Inventory and Reporting Programme, Environmental Protection Agency Ghana
Victor Kitange, Team Lead, Commonwealth Secretariat
Professor Lisa Wilson, Global Head, Strategic Partnerships, Carbon Capital Corporation

15.15  Afternoon tea and start-up Pitch Hub

15.45  IMO and shipping in ETSs  

• Shipping is the first sector to take steps towards a global carbon fee. What will this mean for companies? What can they do to start complying? What are the loopholes and risks?

Moderator:
Rebecca Gualandi, European Climate and Energy Correspondent, Carbon Pulse

Panellists:
Faig Abbasov, Shipping Director, Transport and Environment
Damien Meadows, Legal and Inter-institutional Advisor, European Commission
Katrina Ross, Policy Director, Commercial and Governance, UK Chamber of Shipping

16.15  CORSIA – in or out? 

• With only one authorised project after nearly two years of emissions, how will airlines comply with their obligations under the Carbon Offsetting and Reductions System for International Aviation? What interrelationships exist between CORSIA, SAF, ETSs, removals, and the VCM?

Moderator:
Angeliki Malathrona, Environmental Markets – Southern Europe, Redshaw Advisors

Panellists:
Michael Evans, Group Sustainability Insights Manager, International Airlines Group (IAG)
Jamila Phillips, Senior Price Reporter – Energy Transition, S&P Global Commodity Insights
Ariel Perez, Head of Carbon EMEA, Vitol

17.00  CBAM: Expansion, inclusion, exportation

• Discover the latest details of what the EU CBAM will cover, how exports may be compensated and whether leakage will be averted. We interpret the rules, explore hedging strategies, review CBAM’s impact on the EU ETS and consider the international responses

Moderator:
Dan Maleski, Senior Environmental Commodity Specialist, Lead CBAM Advisor and Trader, Redshaw Advisors

Panellists:
Ayman Benkhalil, Corporate Sustainability Engineer, Ciments de l’Atlas – CIMAT
Calum Boyd, Senior Policy Advisor, HM Treasury
Phil Checkley, Commercial Affairs Lead, Tata Steel
Stuart Evans, Chief Economist, Head of Environmental Markets, Fastmarkets

18.00  Close of day two

08.00  Women in Carbon Breakfast

08.00  Registration and coffee

09.10  Opening remarks from Carbon Forward

Host of the day:
Sonja van Renssen, Chief Strategy Officer, Carbon Pulse 

09.20  How the UK is charting a path to VCM2.0

Discussion:
Shivani Katyal, Joint Head of Voluntary Carbon Markets, Department for Energy, Security, and Net Zero (DESNZ)
Roy Manuell, EMEA Markets Editor, Carbon Pulse ​

09.40  The Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) – are they working?

• We look at how, or whether, the decisions made by the ICVCM over the past 18 months have had a tangible impact on market prices so far. How much CCP supply is out there so far, and what sort of price premium are these credits commanding?

Moderator:
Rachel Mountain, Head of Marketing and Partnerships, Ecosecurities

Panellists:
Douglas Greenwell, Commercial Director – Carbon, BURN
Lorna Ritchie, Director of Public Affairs, Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market
Anton Root, Co-founder, AlliedOffsets
Jennifer Wu, Head of Sustainable Finance Innovation, City of London Corporation

10.30  How the Green Claims Directive could finally deliver the VCM

• The EU’s Green Claims Directive, the only set of government backed rules to come close to being legislation, got pulled at the last minute but was deemed so important that discussions were resurrected the following week. What was the GCD? Why did it fail? What are the complexities of setting a green claims standard, what happens next and what a successful outcome could deliver to the carbon markets.

Moderator:
Rebecca Gualandi, European Climate and Energy Correspondent, Carbon Pulse​

Panellists:
Johan Borje, BECCS Development, Stockholm Exergi
Mark Kenber, Executive Director, Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI)
Andrei Marcu, Executive Director, European Roundtable on Climate Change and Sustainable Transition (ERCST)

11.00  Morning coffee and start-up Pitch Hub

11.30  How can project developers attract more investment

• Carbon credit markets are, at their core, a climate finance tool. This panel will discuss the variety of options available to attract capital for projects.

Moderator:
Adrian Rimmer, Director, Sustainable Finance and Investment, London Stock Exchange Group

Panellists:
Mark Hogg, CEO, Mere Plantations
Alexander Pettefer, CEO, iRise Carbon
Bill Pazos, CEO and Co-founder, Air Carbon Exchange (ACX)
John Weakliam, CEO and Co-founder, Vita

12.15  Doing it right: How to avoid integrity scandals, ratings downgrades, and lawsuits

• We look at how to get project development and offset marketing done right, in order to avoid reputational or legal troubles down the road.

Moderator:
Roy Manuell, EMEA Markets Editor, Carbon Pulse

Panellists:
Francesca Cerchia, Global Head of Climate Services, SGS
Andrew Howard, Chief Strategy and Policy Officer, Verra
Tommy Ricketts, CEO and Co-founder, BeZero Carbon

13.00  Lunch and start-up Pitch Hub

REMOVALS DEEP DIVE AFTERNOON

14.00  How to invest in Carbon Dioxide Removals (CDR)

• Why, what it is, what are the pathways to success are and how companies investing in it now see it evolving

Presenter:
Richard Barker, Partner, Counteract

14.10  CDR project development: The emergent business models

• A look at various CDR business models for engineered and nature based removals and where today’s project developers see the commercial opportunities

Moderator:
Richard Barker, Partner, Counteract

Panellists:
Frederik Aagaard, Chief Commercial Officer, Agreena
Matthew Borghi, Carbon Markets Manager, Elimini
Nick Chadwick, CEO and Co-founder, Mission Zero Technologies

14.40  CDR buyers – what do they want and why? 

• Buyers share with us why they are buying, what they are buying, and what they foresee as the risks and opportunities

Discussion:
Bill Goldie, Environmental Markets Director, Redshaw Advisors
Leigh Hudson, Sustainable Fuels and Carbon Manager, International Airlines Group (IAG)

15.05  How CDR is financed 

• Banks, private equity and insurers talk about what they are doing to secure the transition via removals and why

Moderator:
Marta Krupinska, CEO and Co-founder, Cur8

Panellists
Lisa Leinert, Strategy and Origination Manager, Vitol
Martin Lawless, Group Head of Carbon Markets and Natural Capital, Munich Re Speciality
Emily Martin, Director, Head of Voluntary and Carbon Markets, Lloyds Banking Group

15.35  Capture and utilisation of industrial emissions – addressing climate change

Presenter:
Prof. Dr. Engin Ture, Scientific Advisor, SK Group Technologies

15.45  Afternoon coffee and start-up Pitch Hub

16.15 Carbon analyst showdown part II: VCM, CORSIA, Article 6 and removals

• Join us to uncover 2025’s price trends and what we can expect the markets to pay in the future for VCM, CORSIA, Article 6 credits, and removals

Moderator:
Guy Turner, MD Carbon Markets, MSCI 

Panellists:
Eszter Bencsik, Voluntary Carbon Markets Analyst, S&P Global Commodity Insights
Layla Khanfar, Research Associate, Carbon Markets, BloombergNEF
Nicola De Sanctis, Senior Analyst – Carbon Markets, Fastmarkets

17.00  Close of conference

Day one – Tuesday 7 of October

11.15 – 11.45 Carbonology: Unlocking sustainable finance: The power of independent GHG verification
Presenter:
Melanie Blackmore, CEO and Founder, Carbonology 

Workshop outline:
As the global focus intensifies on climate change and sustainability, businesses are under increasing pressure to demonstrate their environmental impact. Independent Greenhouse Gas (GHG) verification provides a crucial tool to validate and substantiate sustainability claims, unlocking access to sustainable finance and investor confidence. Join us for an insightful workshop where we will delve into the critical role of independent GHG verification in the realm of sustainable finance. 

12.00 – 12.30 Heritage Ecosystem Partners: From plot to payment: A landowner-first playbook for high-integrity forest carbon (IFM & ARR) — lessons from Appalachia that buyers can trust
Presenter:
Anthony Pappas, Owner, Heritage Ecosystems Partners 

Workshop outline:
Heritage Ecosystem Partners will share a pragmatic “plot-to-payment” playbook built across 100+ US-based, small landowner projects—covering eligibility screening, transparent landowner economics, and MRV that blends statistically rigorous field inventory with modern geospatial analytics – using their proprietary software, Carbon Compass. Heritage Ecosystem Partners will compare leading program options (IFM/ARR; 20–125-year terms) and show how contract design, harvesting constraints, and verification cadence shape risk and yield.

12.40 – 13.10 Offset8 Capital: Financing integrity: Trends in the Middle East and how investors pick projects
Presenter:
Nikita Parfeniouk, Origination Lead, Offset8 Capital 

Workshop outline:
The Middle East, led by Abu Dhabi, is rapidly establishing itself as a global hub for carbon markets. With the next edition of Carbon Forward taking place under Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, regional initiatives are setting the pace for how carbon finance can scale with integrity. As part of this momentum, Offset8 announced the Middle East’s first regulated carbon fund, actively deploying capital into high-integrity projects across Africa and Southeast Asia.

In this masterclass, Offset8 will share insights from the frontlines of capital deployment—how investors assess projects, what distinguishes the investable from the aspirational, and why scalability, permanence, and community impact are critical. We will also unpack the latest momentum in the Middle East, and what it means for project developers, corporates, and financiers worldwide. This workshop blends Offset8’s practical investment lens with a forward-looking view of regional trends, offering participants a clear understanding of how capital providers are shaping the future of high-integrity carbon markets.

14.20 – 14.50 SK Group Technologies: Elimination of CO2 and other harmful emissions such as NOx, SO2, and H2S from industrial and domestic boilers
Presenter:
Prof. Dr. Engin Ture, Scientific Advisor, SK Group Technologies

Workshop outline:
An introduction of a new technology for the removal of flue gas coming from power stations. This technology is based on a non-thermal plasma system which is found to be more efficient and economic compared to other technologies.

15.00 – 15.45 Veyt AS: EUA price forecast sensitivities – case study: Steel sector
Presenters:
Harry Öhman, Senior Analyst, Veyt AS
Ingvild Sørhus, Manager, EU Carbon Analysis, Veyt AS
Paul Vercruysse, Product Manager, Kayrros

Workshop outline:
This session will examine the role of the EU ETS in industrial decarbonisation, with a particular focus on the steel sector. Kayrros will provide insights on the near-term emission outlook and economic context, while Veyt will present EUA price scenarios and assess the impact of different policy design options in light of the 2040 climate target.

16.15 – 17.00 BeZero Carbon: The road to 2040: Carbon credits in the EU’s climate policy
Presenter:
Joel Gould, Markets and Policy Lead, BeZero Carbon
Ghana Environmental Protection Agency
Isometric
IETA
Agreena

Workshop outline:
By 2040, it’s likely that EU countries and companies will collectively require hundreds of millions of carbon credits per year to meet domestic targets and deliver on international obligations. This session will explore how both the cost of delivery and climate impact could vary depending on both the types of credit the EU chooses to focus on and the guardrails it puts in place to manage risk. Attendees will come away with an understanding of the potential tradeoffs and the role of project-specific ratings in underpinning affordable and credible decarbonisation at scale.

Day two – Wednesday 8 of October

11.30 – 12.00 S&P Global Commodity Insights: Advancing carbon markets: Leveraging technology and data for next generation registries
Presenters:
Allister Furey, CEO and Co-founder, Sylvera
Andrew Howard, Chief Strategy and Policy Officer, Verra
Jonty Rushforth, Head of Environmental Solutions, S&P Global Commodity Insights

Overview:
As the backbone of carbon markets, registries are essential for providing transparency, integrity, and trust. With the diversification of markets under both voluntary frameworks and Article 6, the infrastructure of registries must evolve. This session will delve into what “next generation registries” look like. Panelists will discuss importance of interoperability, how registries play a crucial role in overseeing activities in the carbon credit market and digitizing data to improve the accessibility of information in the carbon markets. Attendees will gain insights into why robust digital infrastructure is vital for scaling a credible, liquid, and transparent carbon market.

12.15 – 12.45 SGS: Addressing Scope 3 emissions: Insetting and book & claim
Presenters:
Jeronimo Casas de Gonzalo, Global Project Manager, Climate Change Solutions, SGS
Shikha Sharma, Global Technical Lead – Projects, SGS

Overview:
The workshop explores innovative approaches driving credible decarbonisation across value chains. Participants will gain valuable insights on how these mechanisms can support Scope 3 emission reductions while aligning with corporate sustainability goals and standards.

14.00 – 14.30 Recent developments in the Turkish carbon market
Presenter:
Orhan Solak, Vice President of Climate Change, Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, Turkiye

14.40 – 15.15 OroraTech: From flames to credits: Wildfire intelligence for carbon integrity
Presenter:
Leonie Nazemi, Solution Owner – Carbon Markets and Commercial Forestry, OroraTech

Overview:
Wildfires are a growing threat to carbon projects worldwide, with the potential to erase climate gains, undermine project value, and trigger ratings downgrades. This session will demonstrate how satellite-powered wildfire intelligence enables faster detection, predictive fire spread modeling, and proactive response. Through real-world case studies, including large-scale peatland conservation projects, participants will see how advanced fire resilience strategies protect carbon integrity and strengthen both project outcomes and market confidence.

15.15 – 17.30 IETA London Carbon Dialogue on UK and EU ETS Linking – for IETA members
Please contact Victoria Leoro Toscano for further information on the agenda and registration link.

15.45 – 16.15 Redshaw Advisors: Navigating the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
Presenters:
Daniel Atzori, Head of Research and Development, Redshaw Advisors
Sawal Bacha, Research Associate, Redshaw Advisors

Workshop outline:
Explore the CBAM, covering its policy drivers, sectoral coverage and implementation timeline. Learn how CBAM works and understand its risks and opportunities.

Day three – Thursday 9 of October

10.30 – 11.00 Kita: Navigating the evolving requirements for insurance in the carbon markets
Presenters:
Natalia Dorfman, CEO and Co-founder, Kita
Eilis O’Keefe, Associate Vice President, Kita

Workshop outline:
An in-depth and open conversation about carbon insurance, covering how evolving deal structures can best incorporate insurance; insurance requirements to enable financing; mandatory insurance, such as CORSIA; and how to best consider trade-offs between coverage, pricing, and term.  The Kita team will provide perspectives gained from being the first carbon insurer live in the market, and answer questions from workshop participants.

11.30 – 12.00 Agreena: Soil carbon: Unlocking immediate, scalable climate solutions
Presenters:
Michael Bertelsen, Head of Carbon Markets, Agreena
Karolina Kenney, Senior Standards Specialist, Agreena 

Workshop outline:
This session explores how soil carbon can deliver measurable, verifiable emissions reductions and carbon removals – while generating benefits for farmers, ecosystems, and society.

Historically undervalued compared to engineered carbon removal approaches, soil carbon is now gaining recognition as one of the most immediate and scalable climate solutions available. Together, we’ll examine questions of verification, permanence, scalability, additionality, and co-benefits to demonstrate why investing in soil carbon is essential for achieving climate goals.

12.15 – 13.00 Redshaw Advisors: Navigating the EU & UK Emissions Trading Systems
Presenters:
Daniel Atzori, Head of Research and Development, Redshaw Advisors
Sawal Bacha, Research Associate, Redshaw Advisors

Overview:
Understand the foundations and mechanics of the EU and UK Emissions Trading Systems, including market structures, free allocation and price drivers.

14.00 – 14.30 Timber Finance: The missing CDR link: Decarbonising the built environment with engineered timber
Presenter:
Frank Vasek, Managing Director, Timber Finance 

Workshop outline:
The building sector accounts for over 35% of global emissions – yet it still lacks a scalable carbon removal solution. This workshop introduces engineered timber as the most effective CDR pathway for real estate, combining material substitution with long-term carbon storage in buildings. We will present the new Verra methodology for certifying carbon storage in timber construction and explore how developers and investors can generate, monetize, and integrate carbon credits into their portfolios. Join us to discover how timber construction can become a cornerstone of climate-positive, future-proof infrastructure.

14.40 – 15.10 The Natural Climate Solutions Alliance: Managing risk in natural climate solution carbon credits: Best practices for buyers and investors
Presenters:
Andrea Bonzanni, International Policy Director, IETA
Eilis O’Keefe, Associate VP – Carbon Markets, Kita

Workshop outline:
Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) play a vital role in achieving global net-zero and nature-positive goals. However, buyers and investors face a complex landscape of risks when engaging with NCS carbon credits – from permanence and leakage risks to evolving policy frameworks that directly influence market confidence.

Kita, in collaboration with the Natural Climate Solutions Alliance, has recently co-authored a report mapping the spectrum of risks and proposing mitigation strategies. This workshop will unpack those findings and place them in a broader policy context, helping businesses and investors understand both practical risk management tools and the policy frameworks shaping the future of NCS credits.

15.20 – 15.50 Kawari: High-integrity carbon markets: The social contract behind the credits
Presenters:
Alicia López, Fund Manager, Kawari

Workshop outline:
High-integrity carbon markets are not only about robust methodologies and transparent accounting — they are about people. The credibility and “high integrity” of a carbon credit is inseparable from its social foundation. Indigenous Peoples, local communities, farmers, workers, and other stakeholders who shape climate solutions are also the guardians of their long-term integrity. This session explores the “social contract” embedded within every carbon credit — the commitments between project developers, local communities, buyers, and regulators that not only underpin credibility, fairness, and sustainability, but also contribute to the scale, price, and demand around carbon projects and initiatives.

If you are interested in hosting a workshop, please let us know

Day one – Tuesday 7 of October

13.20 Noora: Nature based solutions to human made problems
Presenter:
Ingeborg Gjærum, CEO, Noora

Pitch overview:
Noora is a Norwegian climate tech company on a mission to unlock the environmental potential of Nordic forests. We partner with local forest owners to implement Improved Forest Management (IFM) practices that enhance carbon uptake and reduce emissions. Using technology, we quantify, monitor, and report on the actual climate impact. And, by offering companies the opportunity to secure certified, future carbon credits from local projects, we finance this crucial work and drive a necessary systemic shift toward more climate-resilient forestry.

13.30 Samudra Oceans: Full-stack ocean intelligence platform for MRV
Presenter:
Deepak Shakya, COO, Samudra Oceans

Pitch overview:
Samudra builds a full-stack ocean intelligence platform, combining smart marine robotics, edge sensors, and AI-driven analytics to deliver scalable MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification), ESG compliance, and impact assurance across coastal and offshore sectors. We don’t run ocean projects, we make them verifiable.

Marine operations, from ports to offshore projects, are under growing pressure to prove environmental accountability, yet ocean data remains fragmented, costly, and unreliable. Traditional monitoring is too static, too surface-level, or too slow. With climate policy, carbon markets, ESG mandates, and industrial decarbonisation converging at the water’s edge, trusted ocean data is no longer optional. Samudra delivers it, on demand.

To date, Samudra has deployed in aquaculture projects across the UK, Jamaica, and India, is actively engaging with UK ports for pilot deployments, and has secured forward off-take agreements for carbon credits with leading buyers. We have also been the Earthshot Prize nominee, and recognised at global stages including COP29 and the European Robotics Forum 2025.

We enable any coastal or marine project to instantly prove its environmental integrity and unlock finance, permitting, and global trust.

13.40 Archeda: Support for the creation of reliable nature-based carbon credits using satellite data-intelligence for Nature-based Solutions
Presenter:
Takasama Ogasawara, Senior Manager, Business Development Unit, Archeda

Pitch overview:
Archeda is a Tokyo based startup company that aims at creating reliable nature-based carbon credits, rapidly expanding the business in Southeast Asia. We provide strategic consulting and comprehensive solutions for carbon projects from project planning phase to monitoring phase with satellite data analysis. “Green Insight”: dMRV platform is provided as a one-stop solution for project developers, in addition to feasibility study and PDD creation support. Our solutions are available for nature-based carbon projects such as Afforestation/Reforestation, REDD+, Mangroves and AWD in rice paddies, with international carbon crediting mechanisms/methodologies such as VCS, Gold Standard and JCM.

15.50 PFS Carbon Standard: Carbon confidence: NZ forestry CO2 removals as the foundation for future GHG reporting
Presenter: 
Dr Garry Muir, Founder, PFS Carbon Standard 

Pitch overview:
PFS verify forestry carbon capture and long term storage, enabling New Zealand forest owners to supply the voluntary carbon market with the highest integrity carbon credits from durable forestry carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects.

16.00 IETA: The road to ETS2: How are countries transposing the new carbon market for road transport and buildings?
Presenter:
Svea Nyberg, EU Policy Officer, International Emissions Treading Association 

Pitch overview:
The EU’s new emissions trading system covering fuel combustion from road transport, buildings, and small additional sectors (ETS2) is set to start on January 1, 2027. With the clock ticking to get the system up and running, IETA has launched a new tracker to monitor how Member States and EEA countries are preparing for ETS2. Join this Pitch Hub session for an exclusive first look at the tracker and insights into national transposition progress for ETS2.

Day two – Wednesday 8 of October

11.05 Lion Rouge: Integrating eco-tourism & carbon credits – restoring Africa’s “Big 5”
Presenter:
Luke Martindale, Projects Lead, Lion Rouge

Pitch overview:
At Lion Rouge, we combat climate change by building resilient ecosystems and communities. Our work in biodiversity protection, reforestation, and empowering local populations addresses both environmental and economic challenges head-on

11.15 Sikafields: One credit at a time, the climate is ours
Presenter:
Daniel Asare-Kyei, PhD, Co-founder and CEO, Sikafields Technologies

Pitch overview:
SikaFields is a climate-tech company that transforms African smallholder farms into verified carbon assets using digital MRV, mobile onboarding, and agroforestry mosaics. By combining technology with local partnerships, we help farmers generate and sell high-integrity carbon credits, restoring degraded land, boosting rural incomes, and enabling inclusive access to global carbon markets. With over 6,000 farmers engaged and 15K+ hectares already mapped, SikaFields is building Africa’s most scalable and trusted smallholder carbon platform.

13.10 CarbonPool: Insuring the path to net zero
Presenter:
Ewoud Vandewal, Investment Associate, CarbonPool

Pitch overview:
CarbonPool is a Zürich-based company pioneering the world’s first in-kind carbon credit insurance model. By paying claims in carbon credits rather than cash, we deliver a strong solution for all participants in the carbon market ecosystem. With a team combining deep expertise in insurance, carbon markets, and risk modelling, CarbonPool is building essential market infrastructure that enhances trust, unlocks financing, and accelerates high-quality climate action worldwide.

13.20 Tourba: Transforming agriculture across the Global South into a scalable carbon removal solution that improves farmer livelihoods
Presenter:
Anas Lahbabi, Head of Commercial, Tourba

Pitch overview:
Tourba, founded in 2022 by INNOVX, is developing four large-scale regenerative agriculture projects across the Global South. With over 35,000 farmers engaged on 300,000 hectares, Tourba covers the full chain from farmer onboarding to MRV, supported by strong local agronomy teams. The model delivers lasting climate impact through high-integrity carbon credits, while ensuring real economic benefits for farmers, from 1-hectare plots in Nigeria to 1,000-hectare farms in Brazil.

13.30 Heritage Ecosystem Partners: From plot to payment: A landowner-first software for high-integrity forest carbon
Presenter:
Anthony Pappas, Owner and Lead Consultant, Heritage Ecosystems Partners

Pitch overview:
The Problem: The voluntary carbon market (VCM) faces two major challenges: a lack of accessibility for small and mid-sized private forest landowners, and a crisis of confidence due to widespread issues with market integrity. Small landowners, who own over half of all US forestland, are a vast, untapped source of credits but are often deterred by the market’s complexity and jargon, and they lack the resources to navigate it. This opacity contributes to a lack of trust among buyers who are concerned that a significant portion of carbon offsets may not represent real emissions reductions.  

 The Solution: Carbon Compass Software Carbon Compass is a proprietary software and educational platform designed to address these challenges. It acts as a digital “playbook” that guides private forest landowners through the VCM process, from initial interest to a final, actionable plan. The software’s core functionality is a multi-step framework that provides:

• Education: It offers clear, concise information on foundational concepts of the VCM.
• Personalized Guidance: It uses landowner-provided information to offer data driven recommendations and realistic earnings estimates based on up-to-date market data and state-specific sequestration rates.
• Actionable Plan: The user’s journey concludes with a clear “Next Steps” page, including direct contact information to move them toward project implementation.

The software’s methodology, the “Plot-to-Payment Playbook,” is designed to ensure projects are guided by principles of high integrity from the beginning. This helps create a pipeline of verifiable carbon credits that can withstand the rigorous due diligence of buyers and traders

15.20 MATERIA: Revolutionizing CBAM Intelligence with AI
Presenter:
Francesco Martella, CEO, MATERIA

Pitch overview:
MATERIA is building the first AI-native intelligence platform dedicated to CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) and global carbon border taxes. Our platform, Patchwork, integrates fragmented data on commodities, carbon markets, and regulations into a single source of truth—delivering real-time, actionable insights for commodity market operators and financial institutions.

15.30 GANSO (advised by Climate Focus): Pioneering carbon investments in sustainable landscapes: Transforming Colombia´s beef value chain
Presenter:
Szymon Mikolajczyk, Lead Consultant, Climate Focus

Pitch overview:
GANSO is an organization established in 2018 with support from Climate Focus and Alliance Bioversity-CIAT, headquartered in the city of Villavicencio, in Colombia´s Orinoquia region. This region has enormous potential but underdeveloped value chains and chronic lack of farmer support structures. GANSO was founded to drive the transformation from degraded and inefficiently managed soils and pasturelands to sustainable ranching and ecosystem restoration. Applying market-based approaches, GANSO´s mission is to: formalize beef and dairy value chains, and create incentives for sustainable produce, support farmers to implement sustainable livestock management and ecosystem restoration, and attract private capital to finance innovative land restoration model. As part of the incentives package, GANSO is in the final stages of designing a carbon program, to be registered applying the VCS/CCB standards under Verra in 2026. The carbon program, named HATO VERDE, has the objective of restoring forest and savannah ecosystems in Colombia´s farms, enhance ecosystem services (reduced erosion, enhanced water quality and availability, the reduction and removal of carbon dioxide), and facilitate sustainable livestock management for farm improved productivity; it will provide incentives for farmers to adopt sustainable livestock management and restoration activities.

Day three – Thursday 9 of October

11.05 Bidhaa Sasa: From fire to wire: Cooking with electricity in Kenya
Presenter:
Rocio Perez Ochoa, Co-founder and CEO, Bidhaa Sasa

Pitch overview:
Bidhaa Sasa enables rural households in Kenya and Uganda to access clean cooking and essential household technologies, including electric pressure cookers, through affordable group-based payment plans. By combining a women-to-women sales network with carbon finance, Bidhaa Sasa unlocks scalable, high-impact growth while delivering measurable climate, health, and gender empowerment outcomes.

11.15 CBX.earth: Why the VCM is broken, and what we can do about it
Presenter:
Harold Robson, Co-founder, CBX.earth

Pitch overview:
CBX.earth is a blockchain startup providing tokenised carbon credits. They offer fractional retirements (0.01 credits), near instant transactions and full transparency whilst maintaining flat 3% fees. They aim to incorporate all registries and provide the liquidity, efficiency and transparency needed by the VCM.

13.20 Clever Offsets: Listening first, building smarter: Data for the carbon markets
Presenter:
Rick Beaumont, CEO, Clever Offsets, Inc.

Pitch overview:
Clever is a B2B data company for the carbon markets.  We offer a turnkey analytics platform built on the market’s most complete and powerful database.  Before Clever, navigating the carbon markets was nearly impossible.  Not anymore. Clever’s platform aggregates data across registries, ensuring due diligence for confident, data-driven business decisions in carbon markets, whether your business is financing, trading, or seeking to deliver a project.

13.30 Kumo: Data and infrastructure platform to enable institutional funding of carbon projects
Presenter:
Henry Waite, COO, Kumo

Pitch overview:
Kumo is building the financial infrastructure for the carbon market – providing data-rich software and streamlined legal frameworks to give capital providers the confidence to fund carbon removal projects at scale—making carbon finance as accessible and investable as mainstream asset classes.