Bogotá, Colombia, 23 September 2025 – Cercarbono, a global leader in environmental certification, has been named ‘Best GHG Crediting Programme / Standards Setter’ at the 2025 Environmental Finance Voluntary Carbon Market Awards, making it the first Global South standard to win the award.

Environmental Finance’s 16th annual Voluntary Carbon Market Rankings are widely regarded as a benchmark of excellence, with winners chosen directly by market participants, including project developers, brokers, buyers, and insurers. Past winners include some of the most recognised names in the market, and the accolade is a widely followed signal of trust and credibility across the sector – a sign of true recognition by the market.

For Cercarbono, the award confirms its position as one of the world’s leading voluntary carbon standards, at a time when expectations on transparency and accountability have never been higher. It highlights the strength of its methodologies, the efficiency of its certification processes, and the transparency of its blockchain-based registry, EcoRegistry, which tracks projects from registration through to credit retirement. The award underlines both the technical rigour of Cercarbono’s approach and its growing influence in shaping the next phase of carbon markets.

Alex Saer, CEO of Cercarbono, said: “This award matters because it comes directly from the people who engage with our standards and credits every day – developers, buyers, and other market actors across the value chain. It validates the trust that the market places in Cercarbono’s processes, the efficiency of our methodologies, and the integrity of our certification system. We are also extremely proud to be the first Global South standard to win the award, confirming beyond doubt that impactful, high-integrity solutions from the regions most affected by climate change can resonate globally.”

Annabelle Palmer, Content Strategist at Environmental Finance, said: “Environmental Finance is delighted to recognise Cercarbono for its leadership and innovation in the carbon markets. The firm’s commitment to quality, integrity, and long-term development of the carbon market sets a benchmark for the industry and demonstrates how climate action can deliver both environmental and social impact at scale.”

Since 2016, Cercarbono has registered more than 200 projects across more than 20 countries, making it one of the sector’s fastest-growing certification programmes. Its processes are designed to be accessible and efficient without compromising rigour, enabling project developers to reach the market more quickly while ensuring credits meet the highest international expectations for integrity. Buyers and intermediaries benefit from clear traceability, alignment with global frameworks, and reduced reputational risk.

Cercarbono’s roots in Latin America, a region on the frontline of climate and biodiversity challenges, ensure its certification systems are technically robust, socially coherent, and legally relevant. By elevating the perspectives of emerging economies, the standard helps channel climate finance to places that need it most, so local stakeholders can increase climate ambition and benefit directly from the growth of carbon markets.