Carbon Credit Retirements Hit Record 95 Million in H1 2025 as Market Quality and Compliance Improve
Carbon credit retirements surged to a record 95 million in H1 2025, driven by higher-quality credits and compliance with global schemes like CORSIA, signaling growing maturity and alignment in voluntary and regulated carbon markets.
Carbon credit retirements surged to 95 million in H1 2025, the highest half-year figure ever recorded, according to an analysis by carbon data provider Sylvera. In carbon markets, retirement is the process of using a credit to offset emissions and making it no longer tradable.
On the supply side of the market, Sylvera has recorded a flurry of issuances – the process of newly creating credits that are available for trading – with 77 million credits being issued, an increase of 39% from the first quarter of the year, and up 14% when compared to Q2 2024.
Quality standards drive market evolution
The data reveals a shift toward higher quality, with 57% of Sylvera-rated credits retired in H1 2025 holding BB ratings or above - up from 52% throughout 2024. This trend reflects the market's increasing sophistication as buyers are better-informed of integrity considerations of carbon credits, in part due to clearer guidance from ICVCM’s Core Carbon Principles, as well as the growth of carbon credit ratings and other due diligence services in the market.
As we mark the halfway point of the first phase of CORSIA, the UN’s global carbon offsetting scheme for international aviation, over a third (37%) of credits issued belong to projects that are potentially under standards and methodologies that have been approved by ICAO towards Phase 1 of the scheme. This is a significant increase from the same period in 2024, where only 28% qualified.
The scheme would require airlines from participating states to offset the growth in their international aviation emissions above 2019 levels using eligible carbon credits, with the Phase 1 cancellation deadline due by January 2028. However, it remains uncertain to what extent these projects will secure host country authorizations that are required for CORSIA compliance.
Allister Furey, CEO at Sylvera, said: “Demand for credits and, in particular, high-quality credits is at an all-time high. At the same time, increasing use of project-based credits in compliance schemes is narrowing the gap between voluntary and compliance markets. Meeting both higher climate integrity standards, as evidenced by ratings, and eligibility criteria for schemes, like CORSIA, is being seen as essential for new projects in development. Market alignment with both integrity and regulatory expectations is starting to unlock the potential of carbon markets to deliver genuine climate impact at lower economic costs.”
Industrial and commercial breakthrough diversifies project landscape
Forestry and Land Use projects, such as REDD+, ARR and IFM, remained the largest category of issued credits at 31%. ARR projects in particular, which has seen increased activity in the primary market, saw an average of $24 per credit, reflecting both the relatively higher costs of implementing such projects, as well as greater willingness to pay amongst buyers seeking to procure nature-based removals credits. The price premium of ~$27 for BBB+ rated projects is fuelled by constrained supply, with ARR credits making up only 3.7% of retirements in H1 2025.
One of the quarter's more notable developments was the growth in Industrial and Commercial projects, which represented 19% of issuances so far this year, up from 7.9% in H1 2024. This category includes projects such as reclaiming refrigerants, switching to advanced blowing agents, coal mine methane capture, and other industrial energy efficiency improvements. REDD+ projects also rebounded, jumping from 3% in Q1 to 16% in Q2 – the highest level since Q2 2023's 33% peak.
Geographic rebalancing mirrors market dynamics
The North American region more than doubled its market share of issuances this quarter, with 43% of issuances originating from the continent, up from 21% in Q1. This led the American Carbon Registry to become the dominant registry for quarterly new issuances for the first time ever at 33%, followed by Gold Standard (25%) and Verra (21%).
Market outlook: convergence and growth
The Q2 surge positions the carbon market for significant evolution as voluntary and compliance mechanisms increasingly align. With leaders having agreed on high standards for project methodologies and integrity at COP29, detailed guidelines across various geographies and industries are being put in place throughout 2025, and PACM credits are likely entering the market by late 2025. This regulatory clarity, combined with CORSIA's approaching Phase 1 implementation, is driving the quality improvements evident in Q2 data.
The combination of supply growth, quality elevation, and compliance readiness suggests the carbon market is entering a new phase of institutional maturity - one where integrity and scalability converge to support genuine climate impact.
Read more about our data insights for this quarter on the Sylvera website.
