In a move that underscores the rising global importance of carbon markets, global technology giant Apple Inc has purchased and retired 100,000 carbon credits from Guyana. The credits, bought at a rate of US$15 per tonne, amount to a total of GYD$313 million. This transaction represents both a financial gain for Guyana but also a strategic step forward for global climate mitigation efforts.
Apple’s acquisition of the carbon credits, specifically legacy credits from the year 2019, places it among a growing list of multinational corporations seeking to reduce their environmental footprints by supporting credible, jurisdictional carbon offset programmes. It also marks Apple as the second major company to purchase carbon credits from Guyana, following the groundbreaking agreement with Hess Corporation in December 2022, in which US$750 million worth of credits were sold.
The credits purchased by Apple are part of Guyana’s jurisdictional REDD+ programme, which covers the nation’s entire forest expanse of 18 million hectares, accounting for approximately 85 per cent of the country’s landmass. This initiative not only rewards Guyana for maintaining one of the world’s lowest deforestation rates but also channels critical funding towards its low-carbon development goals.
Carbon credits operate as part of a global mechanism to combat climate change. Under this system, countries or corporations that emit greenhouse gases beyond their allotted limits can offset their excess emissions by purchasing credits from nations with lower emissions. For nations like Guyana, this provides a sustainable avenue to monetise environmental stewardship without compromising economic growth.
The impact of such purchases is multifaceted. For Guyana, the financial inflow supports the Government’s efforts in climate adaptation, forest conservation, and the enhancement of community livelihoods, particularly in Indigenous and forest-dependent regions. These funds can also be directed towards clean energy initiatives, green infrastructure, and sustainable agriculture – all vital sectors in the pursuit of climate resilience and economic diversification.
From a global perspective, Apple’s move to retire the credits rather than use them for offsetting alone reflects a forward-thinking approach. It reduces the total number of available credits in the market, thereby increasing their environmental value and reinforcing the urgency for direct emissions reduction across industries. Apple’s action sets a precedent for corporate responsibility and demonstrates how the Private Sector can align its operations with international climate commitments, including the goals of the Paris Agreement.
It is important to note that Apple has been carbon neutral across its global corporate operations since April 2020 and has made similar purchases in countries like Colombia and Kenya. Its latest investment in Guyana adds credibility to Guyana’s forest-based carbon credit system and signals growing market confidence in the country’s Environmental Protection Agency and climate governance frameworks.
Between 2022 and 2024, Guyana earned US$237.5 million from the Hess Corporation agreement alone. For the 2021–2025 period, credits under this agreement are priced at US$20 per tonne, while the 2025–2030 tranche is expected to fetch US$25 per tonne – projecting another US$562 million in future earnings. These figures reflect the increasing value of forest conservation in international climate finance and Guyana’s strong position as a pioneer in market-based environmental solutions.
As global temperatures rise and climate risks intensify, the international community must turn to models that deliver both environmental integrity and economic opportunity. Guyana’s REDD+ framework, validated by reputable institutions and now backed by major Private Sector actors, provides such a model. The successful monetisation of forest assets through transparent carbon credit systems enables nations like Guyana to contribute meaningfully to global emissions reductions while advancing their own sustainable development agendas.
Apple’s decision to purchase and retire carbon credits from Guyana is not merely a transaction, it is a signal of confidence in nature-based solutions, an endorsement of robust carbon accounting systems, and a contribution to the collective climate effort. It serves as a reminder that the path to a sustainable future will be built not only through State action but through public-private collaboration rooted in science, transparency, and shared responsibility.
Guyana stands as both a steward of natural capital and a leader in climate diplomacy, showcasing how environmental integrity can be harmonized with national development. The partnership with Apple affirms this trajectory and reinforces the global case for investing in forest nations as vital allies in the fight against climate change.
