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Carbon Decoupling Without Material Decoupling: Why the Green Economy Must Address the Circularity Gap

We may be 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲) 𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 in parts of the world and in some periods 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 at the global level, as indicated by declining circularity. The Circularity Gap Reports indicate that the share of secondary materials in the global economy dropped from 𝟵.𝟭% (𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟴) to 𝟲.𝟵% (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱) of 106 billion tonnes of materials used annually coming from recycled sources. Meanwhile, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙖𝙨𝙩. A WEF–BCG (2025) report the 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 $5 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙤𝙣 and is projected to exceed $7 trillion annually by 2030.

EU Taxonomy uptake is accelerating — and the signal for capital markets is getting clearer

The EU Taxonomy was built to solve a practical market problem: make sustainability claims comparable, investment-relevant, and auditable—so capital can move faster toward activities that materially support net-zero and broader environmental objectives. Recent “on the ground” uptake data shows that this is increasingly happening, even as policymakers move to reduce reporting friction and simplify usability through a new Delegated Act under the Sustainability Omnibus package and an ongoing review of the Climate and Environmental Delegated Acts to streamline technical screening criteria.

PPPs – The Key to Sustainable Infrastructure and Finance

In July 2025, during the High-Level Forum on Development Finance, the United Nations Secretary-General cautioned that “the Sustainable Development Goals are hanging by a thread,” underscoring the critical juncture at which global development now stands. He emphasized that “with them, the hopes and aspirations of billions of people around the world” are at risk. The widening gap between ambition and financing has made it increasingly clear that traditional funding sources—public budgets and official development assistance—are no longer sufficient to meet the scale and urgency of modern infrastructure and service delivery needs.

CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY

Global Momentum for Environmental Transparency Remains Strong as Markets Demand Actionable Data

In 2025, 640 investors controlling US$127 trillion in assets called on companies to disclose through CDP, while over 270 major buyers requested environmental data from approximately 45,000 suppliers via CDP’s Supply Chain program.

CCMA

Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) Methodologies

CDM methodologies are approved baseline and monitoring frameworks that specify: How to define a credible baseline scenario (what would happen in the absence of the project) How to demonstrate additionality How to quantify emission reductions or net removals How to monitor, report, and verify project performance over time They ensure environmental integrity, comparability of emission reductions, and confidence in issued CERs. Without an approved methodology, a CDM project cannot be registered or issue CERs.

FINANCE

Investment in renewable power ($1.19 trillion) slightly exceeds fossil fuel investment ($ 1.13 trillion) for the first time – A narrow but symbolically important gap.

In 2024, a threshold was crossed that energy-transition advocates have chased for more than a decade: global capital flowing into the core electricity-transition stack—renewable power generation, power grids, and battery storage—edged ahead of investment in fossil fuels. Though the gap is narrow, it is symbolically important, showing that the system-building side of decarbonisation (generation + networks + flexibility) is now competing head-to-head with the fossil value chain for investors’ balance sheets.

CCMA

CCMA Recognition of Prior Learning Pathway PRE-ASSESSMENT TEST

A mandatory gateway assessment for professionals seeking CCMA certification through the Recognition of Prior Learning pathway. Its primary purpose is to pre-screen applicants and confirm that they already hold the minimum technical competence expected of a CCMA-level practitioner before they proceed to submit an RPL application and supporting evidence.

CCMA

Voluntary Market Carbon Crediting Standards (Programmes)

The voluntary carbon market is entering a phase of structural maturity. Today, 19+ carbon crediting standards and programmes collectively govern the registration, verification, issuance, and retirement of carbon credits, with over 129 million credits retired and an average price of USD 6.34 per tCO₂e. This page maps the leading ICROA-endorsed and emerging carbon crediting programmes that define how climate mitigation outcomes are governed

ICROA Passes the Torch: Celebrating a Carbon Market Pioneer

In early December 2025, the voluntary carbon market community received a bittersweet announcement: the International Carbon Reduction and Offsetting Alliance (ICROA) will wind down operations by late 2026. Founded in 2008 by a group of carbon credit experts in the UK, US, and Australia, ICROA was built by the market, for the market at a time when no other integrity framework existed.

We are home to the Net Zero Learning Pathways App and the CCMA secretariat, supporting professionals worldwide to stay abreast of global trends and acquire the knowledge and competencies required to drive sustainable development outcomes.

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