Scaling Forest Carbon Finance: Key Takeaways from the 2026 Paris Knowledge Forum

A synthesis of discussions from a World Bank-hosted knowledge forum highlights practical priorities for strengthening forest carbon programs, delivering benefits to communities, and mobilizing private investment.

How can countries build on their experience with jurisdictional REDD+ to deliver high-integrity forest carbon credits more efficiently, strengthen benefits for communities, and attract greater private investment?

These questions were at the center of a World Bank-hosted knowledge forum in Paris from June 29 to July 3, 2026, bringing together country representatives, contributors, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, private sector actors, and development partners.

Organized jointly by four World Bank Group–managed climate and carbon finance programs—the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (ISFL), Scaling Climate Action by Lowering Emissions (SCALE), and Enhancing Access to Benefits while Lowering Emissions (EnABLE)—the forum provided an opportunity to exchange practical experiences and identify priorities for scaling jurisdictional REDD+.

A synthesis of the discussions captures the experiences shared by participants, the challenges identified, and the practical recommendations emerging across three priority areas:

• Accelerating the delivery of high-integrity carbon credits. Participants highlighted the need for stronger national measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems, sustained investment in domestic technical capacity, and more efficient verification processes. Digital tools and greater standardization could help reduce costs and accelerate credit issuance.
• Strengthening benefit sharing and social integrity. Discussions emphasized the importance of clear legal frameworks, transparent distribution mechanisms, and meaningful community participation to ensure carbon finance delivers equitable outcomes. Participants also highlighted the value of recognizing wider benefits for livelihoods, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience.
• Mobilizing private sector investment. Clearer rules governing carbon rights and transactions, credible safeguards, and effective risk-mitigation instruments were identified as important for building investor confidence. Stronger engagement between countries and potential buyers could also help expand market access.

A recurring theme was the importance of moving beyond individual projects and fragmented approaches toward durable, nationally owned systems capable of delivering credible climate results and sustained development benefits.

The synthesis also captures priority recommendations and proposed follow-up actions for countries, the World Bank Group, and development partners, including technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning, stronger benefit-sharing arrangements, and support for private sector engagement.

Together, these discussions provide a useful basis for continued collaboration as countries work to strengthen their forest carbon programs and expand access to high-integrity carbon finance.

Read the synthesis of forum discussions and recommendations.