ZeroMission has reached an important milestone: over six million tons of carbon credits sold. To put that in perspective, it is equivalent to the annual emissions of an entire country the size of Finland, or the warming effect of one million airplane flights around the world. At a time when the remaining global carbon budget to limit warming to 1.5°C is rapidly shrinking, every ton counts - and this achievement underlines the important role we and our customers play in climate action.

In the last five years alone, ZeroMission has facilitated the sale of more than 3.5 million credits. Of these, over one million tons come from the Plan Vivo Trees for Global Benefits project in Uganda, one of our first climate projects. Since its inception in 2007, we have worked with this community-led initiative, which helps smallholder farmers plant and protect trees while creating livelihoods. Seeing this partnership grow into one of Plan Vivo's largest projects is a source of deep pride for us internally.

ZeroMission's growing impact is also reflected in our performance. In our first year of operation, we sold 32,000 tons. Last year, this figure was more than ten times higher - clear evidence that companies are increasingly taking responsibility for their climate impact.

ZeroMission visiting the smallholder Butheremeo Katalibabo during one of our first project visits in 2013 in Mozambique. 

A majority of projects under Plan Vivo
Nature-based solutions are close to our hearts. That's why more than 75% of the credits we sell are certified to Plan Vivo, a groundbreaking framework that puts people and ecosystems at the center of climate action. This means that the credits we work with not only deliver measurable climate benefits, but also contribute to improving livelihoods, enhancing biodiversity and preserving cultural heritage.

To date, around five million tons have been channelled through Plan Vivo. The results are tangible: hundreds of thousands of trees have been planted, important habitats have been protected and countless endemic species have been conserved. Crucially, these projects also provide direct economic benefits to rural communities for the management of their land, creating long-term incentives for nature conservation and resilience.

Visiting Malawi in 2014 in the village of Nambamba.

More than carbon
While tons and targets are important to measure progress, the impact of six million carbon credits sold goes far beyond carbon itself. Each credit represents a story: farmers planting trees in Uganda, communities restoring mangrove forests in Kenya, or families in Southeast Asia gaining access to efficient stoves that consume less wood. It represents thriving biodiversity, soils that store more carbon and cultures that are empowered to live in harmony with nature.

Carbon Tanzania has been a partner project of ZeroMission since 2012. 

The way forward requires both urgency and scale. Carbon credits are not a one-size-fits-all solution, but when built with integrity, they are an important complement to companies' strategies to reduce their emissions. ZeroMission remains committed to ensuring that every credit we sell delivers robust climate benefits and lasting values for both people and nature.

During a project visit to Indonesia in 2018. 

With six million tons now achieved, we celebrate the collective achievement of our customers, partners and projects - and look forward to the next million.