(JUBA COUNTY) – South Sudan has taken steps towards creating a national framework for carbon markets, following the launch of a three day stakeholder consultation workshop in Juba. The workshop is organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
Officials said the initiative is part of South Sudan’s efforts to align with its climate change mitigation priorities. The framework is expected to support the reduction of emissions while enabling the generation and trade of carbon credits. The approach is consistent with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which allows countries to cooperate voluntarily to achieve climate targets.
The consultations have brought together representatives from government institutions, civil society, the private sector and development partners. They are discussing how South Sudan can establish rules and systems that ensure transparency, accountability and environmental integrity while also supporting national development objectives.
Carbon markets are seen as a way to attract green investment, expand private sector participation and contribute to the global mitigation effort. Experts noted that for South Sudan, which is highly vulnerable to climate impacts such as floods and droughts, the development of a regulated carbon market could also provide opportunities to fund climate adaptation projects and diversify the economy.
Officials said the framework under discussion would enable South Sudan to trade carbon credits with international partners, generating revenue that could support both environmental protection and economic growth. This would place the country within a wider network of nations using market based approaches to address climate change.
Analysts believe that a well structured carbon market could encourage companies operating in South Sudan to adopt cleaner technologies and practices, as they would be able to benefit from carbon credit opportunities while contributing to national and global goals.
The workshop is expected to conclude with recommendations that will form the foundation of South Sudan’s Carbon Market Framework. This will then be considered by the government as part of wider policy measures on climate action and sustainable development.
Potential Benefits of a Carbon Market for South Sudan
| Area | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Investment | Attracts international green finance |
| Private Sector Growth | Encourages local and foreign business participation |
| Emission Reductions | Incentivises cleaner technologies |
| Revenue Generation | Creates income through carbon credit trade |
| Climate Resilience | Funds projects addressing floods, droughts and deforestation |
