EUA – Price Evolution, 19 August
The price of EUA (European Union Allowances) carbon certificates has remained stable in recent months, fluctuating around 70–73 €/ton. After an upward trend in July, driven by increased interest from institutional investors, prices have entered a consolidation phase with moderate trading volumes. Breaking through the 75 €/ton threshold is seen as an important milestone that could trigger a new growth phase, especially in the context of the overall emissions cap reduction planned for 2026 and the gradual phase-out of free allocations.
EU launches “Nature Credits” – a new financing mechanism for nature restoration
On 7 July 2025, the European Commission presented its official plan to launch “nature credits,” a voluntary market mechanism designed to attract private funding into ecosystem restoration projects. Official estimates indicate an annual biodiversity financing gap of €37 billion across the EU, and these credits are intended to partially bridge that gap by involving the private sector (Reuters).
The credits will financially reward farmers, foresters, and other local stakeholders who carry out activities such as reforestation, wetland restoration, rehabilitation of degraded grasslands, or creation of ecological corridors. Unlike carbon credits, which quantify CO₂ emission reductions or removals, “nature credits” will measure direct benefits to biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Implementation will begin in 2025 with the creation of an expert group to develop certification methodologies and criteria for monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV). A pilot project is scheduled for 2027 to test the integrity of the system and its actual environmental impact (Planet2050, CINEA).
Pilot initiatives already carried out through the Green Assist program include wetland restoration in France, the implementation of sustainable forest management in Estonia, and ecosystem conservation in Peru. These projects are testing financial models and governance mechanisms that could be applied to the future “nature credits” market.
Analysis: advantages and risks
The launch of “nature credits” could bring a significant positive shift, providing an additional source of funding for nature restoration, reducing pressure on public budgets, and actively involving private capital. The scheme could support rural communities with supplementary income for restoration activities, encouraging the transition to regenerative agricultural practices. In a context where nature underpins over 50% of global GDP and approximately 66% of the EU’s added economic value, protecting ecosystems is not only an ecological issue but also a strategic economic one.
However, there are critical points that cannot be overlooked. The lack of standardized biodiversity methodologies makes it difficult to verify actual impact and could enable greenwashing. There is also a risk that certain productive agricultural lands, which directly contributed to food security and the economy, could be withdrawn from agricultural use and converted into restored ecosystems solely to generate nature credits. Such a shift could have side effects on agricultural output, food markets, and agri-food sector revenues, especially if not planned carefully and in balance with socio-economic needs. Furthermore, turning nature’s value into a financial instrument requires extremely strict governance to avoid undermining the original purpose of environmental protection.
In conclusion, “nature credits” are an initiative with genuine potential, but their success will depend on the integrity of the implementation framework, the balance between conservation and economic needs, and the transparent involvement of all relevant stakeholders.