Launched this Friday, 23 October, the public consultation of the new proposed methodology for the “Restoration and Conservation of Marine Seagrass Meadows in Mainland Portugal”, developed within the scope of the Voluntary Carbon Market (MVC) and which opens the way to the development of projects that reconcile climate action, biodiversity protection and nature restoration, announced by the Office of the Minister of the Environment and Energy in a statement.
According to the same source, the methodology was proposed by ANA – Airports of Portugal, S.A., with the support of NBI – Natural Business Intelligence, the Centre for Marine Sciences at the University of the Algarve, and the Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies, having been examined by the Technical Monitoring Committee of the Voluntary Carbon Market.
The technical opinion of this Committee recognises the innovative character of the proposal and considers that the creation of this methodology constitutes an opportunity to mobilize private funding for the restoration of these ecosystems, strengthen technical and scientific knowledge, and diversify the range of projects in the MVC.
The proposal provides for the possibility of awarding Carbon Credits Plus when projects demonstrate additional benefits for biodiversity and natural capital, reinforcing the link between climate action and nature restoration. The methodology will also contribute to the realization of the National Plan for Nature Restoration (PNRN), by creating conditions to mobilize private investment for the restoration of marine ecosystems and the recovery of biodiversity.
According to the Minister of the Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho: “We want the Voluntary Carbon Market to also be an instrument to finance the recovery of nature. With this new methodology, we take a concrete step to value blue carbon and the role of marine ecosystems in climate action.”
Thus, the documents are already in public consultation, on the Participa portal, until 22 November 2026, with interested parties able to submit contributions to their final version.
With this new methodology, the Ministry of Environment and Energy continues the consolidation of the Voluntary Carbon Market as a credible, transparent and technically solid instrument capable of directing investment to projects with lasting climate, environmental and territorial benefits.
The Voluntary Carbon Market is already in operation, with three approved methodologies, five projects submitted on the platform, of which two have already been approved, 10 qualified verifiers, 30 registered users and 977 future carbon credits issued. After completing its first year of operation, the MVC now enters a new development phase, aimed at increasing the number of projects, diversifying the available methodologies and strengthening the demand for national carbon credits.
According to the Minister of the Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho: “After a first year dedicated to creating the conditions for the operation of the Voluntary Carbon Market, we now want to accelerate its momentum, with more projects, new methodologies and greater demand for national carbon credits, to channel more private investment toward decarbonization and to the valorization of our natural resources.”
