The Asia-Pacific region is witnessing a growing momentum in carbon pricing development, driven by national climate commitments, evolving regulatory frameworks, and increasing private sector engagement. This session will provide a high-level overview of key trends shaping government-backed compliance and voluntary carbon markets across the region from emerging emissions trading schemes to Article 6 readiness and cross-border cooperation.

As demand for high-integrity carbon credits grows, removals are increasingly perceived as the gold standard, while avoidance credits face heightened scrutiny particularly around additionality. This distinction risks oversimplifying real-world climate solutions and diverting investment from high-impact avoidance projects including forest conservation in countries with rich natural carbon sinks. In this session, experts will unpack integrity best practice and explore how market guidance can support all credible pathways to mitigate climate impacts.

International carbon pricing mechanisms are shaping global trade, investment, and climate decisions. Yet their implications remain unclear amid evolving regulations and early-stage implementation. This session explores how CBAM, Article 6, and CORSIA are influencing government policy, market development and access. Speakers will discuss what these frameworks mean for exporters, project developers, and airlines, and how Asia-Pacific governments are responding to new compliance demands.

The Asia Pacific region holds immense potential for nature-based solutions that address climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development. Despite this, private sector investment remains limited due to challenges such as policy uncertainty, underdeveloped markets, and capacity constraints. This session will delve into strategies to overcome these barriers and explore opportunities to scale high-integrity nature-based projects that deliver measurable climate and community outcomes across the region.