Carbon Compass

In this episode, we discuss Verra’s recently released VCS Standard 5.0 and what it means for carbon project developers. The carbon credit rulebook is changing. VCS 5 introduces important updates to how carbon projects are developed, registered, renewed, and verified — with a stronger focus on integrity, clearer rights, earlier planning, and more meaningful stakeholder engagement. Hosted by Emma Re...

In this episode, we sit down with one of our clients, TransEnergy Global, to explore the incredible work they’re doing. We unpack their journey in implementing a first-of-its-kind project, hear their perspective on South Africa’s Just Energy Transition, and discuss the role carbon credits can play in accelerating it. We also dive into the progress made so far in developing their methodology and we...

Carbon credits play a critical role in global climate action, yet their complexity often makes them challenging to understand. In this episode, Joseph Freimond, Sustainability Consultant at Brundtland, speaks with Henk Sa, Partner and Head of Carbon Finance at Brundtland, who brings over 20 years of experience in the global carbon industry. Together, they unpack the full carbon credit journey, fro...

South Africa’s draft carbon budget regulations are here – and they could reshape how companies manage and report greenhouse gas emissions. In this episode, Emma Reinecke speaks with Jan Willem Timmer, Principal Consultant at Brundtland, who played a key role in drafting the regulations, to unpack what they mean for businesses, policymakers, and South Africa’s climate commitments. We cover the basi...

In this episode, we explore the practical realities of complying with the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). We look at what South African exporters need to do to comply, what it might cost, and why it’s critical for maintaining access to European markets. We also unpack the risks of non-compliance, including heavy fines and reduced competitiveness, and discuss how decarbonisation and...

In this episode, we unpack the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and what it means for South African exporters. We explain how CBAM works, why it’s being implemented, and which local industries are most exposed. We also explore the expected costs, the impact of the South African carbon tax, and why Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems are now essential for exporters to...

In Part 2 of The State of the Carbon Market, Dumo Shezi and Henk SA dive deeper into the numbers, modelling how carbon credit supply and demand could evolve in South Africa through 2035. They unpack three possible futures for the market, and the where the potential supply gaps may occur, and explore the policy and private sector actions needed to close them. Key points of discussion: • Forecasting...

In the first instalment of this two-part series, Emma Reinecke and Henk Sa lay the groundwork for understanding South Africa’s carbon market. They explore what carbon credits are, how the country’s carbon tax works, and the role of the Carbon Offset Administration System (COAS) in managing credit supply and retirements. This episode sets the stage for a deeper dive into how we see the market evolv...