MSCI’s Participation in the Voluntary Carbon Markets
MSCI believes our carbon emissions reduction path will not be linear. Progress will be shaped by a combination of our own operational improvements, supplier action, evolving technologies, and broader market and policy developments. The voluntary carbon market is one part of this portfolio of levers, complementing our other decarbonization efforts.
We believe high-quality carbon projects can have a meaningful impact on our efforts to manage climate risks and capture opportunities. MSCI purchases carbon credits on an ongoing basis, vetting projects for quality, integrity and risks across multiple criteria. We leverage MSCI Carbon Market’s research and Carbon Project Ratings as part of our review and purchase process.
Type of Credits Purchased
Projects that reduce/avoid emissions being released into the atmosphere
Examples of MSCI purchased projects:
- An avoidance project at a nylon manufacturing facility in Florida that prevents potent greenhouse gases from being released into the atmosphere.
- An avoidance project focused on collecting and permanently destroying ozone-depleting refrigerants and other high-impact substances before they can be released into the atmosphere.
Projects that directly remove emissions from the atmosphere
Examples of MSCI purchased projects:
- An afforestation project that works with smallholder farmers in Uganda to plant and manage trees, building long-term environmental and economic benefits for local communities.
- A reforestation project in Colombia that is restoring former plantation areas with native forests, returning biodiversity and ecological health to the region.
- A wetland restoration project in Pakistan that is reviving mangrove forests along the Indus River Delta, restoring one of the region's most vital coastal ecosystems.