Mirova, the sustainable investment affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, has signed framework agreements with independent carbon credit ratings providers BeZero Carbon and Sylvera in a move aimed at strengthening integrity across voluntary carbon markets. The agreements will integrate third-party carbon credit ratings into Mirova’s investment processes, reinforcing a broader shift toward higher standards of transparency, quality, and measurable climate impact.

The partnerships come at a time of heightened scrutiny of carbon credits, as investors, regulators, and corporate buyers demand clearer evidence of emissions reductions, biodiversity protection, and community benefits. Mirova, which has invested in nature-based and climate-positive projects for more than a decade, said the agreements deepen its commitment to channel capital toward high-quality climate solutions.

Shift From Volume to Quality in Carbon Markets

The voluntary carbon market is increasingly moving away from a volume-driven model toward one centered on quality and accountability. Projects that can demonstrate additionality, deliver durable emissions reductions or removals, and generate meaningful co-benefits are now viewed as critical to maintaining market credibility.

Independent ratings providers such as BeZero Carbon and Sylvera have emerged as important elements of market infrastructure. Using science-based methodologies that incorporate geospatial analytics, project documentation review, and risk modeling, these firms publish ratings designed to enhance comparability and transparency across projects and geographies.

Mirova stated that incorporating these ratings will add an external perspective on project quality and strengthen trust in the carbon credits linked to its investments. The third-party assessments will complement Mirova’s existing ESG and technical due diligence processes, which already combine in-house expertise with external specialists.

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Strengthening Portfolio Quality and Investor Confidence

By integrating independent ratings, Mirova aims to sharpen its ability to identify credible projects and continuously refine its quality standards. The enhanced analytical layer is expected to reinforce the premium positioning of its climate investment strategies while supporting global climate objectives.

The firm indicated that the strengthened framework will contribute to a more transparent and accountable carbon market ecosystem. At a time when concerns about credit quality and greenwashing remain prominent, the additional scrutiny is designed to bolster investor confidence and align carbon strategies with evolving governance expectations.

Improving Capital Access for High-Integrity Projects

Beyond transparency for investors, independent ratings can help project developers demonstrate methodological rigor, monitoring systems, and measurable environmental and social outcomes. Higher-quality ratings may also improve comparability across projects, accelerating investment decisions, particularly for innovative initiatives in emerging markets where access to climate finance is often constrained.

Greater transparency and standardized assessment frameworks can enable developers to scale impact while encouraging continuous improvement across carbon methodologies.

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Rising Governance Expectations in Voluntary Carbon Markets

For corporate buyers and institutional investors, the integration of independent ratings signals increasing professionalization within voluntary carbon markets. Governance standards are rising as companies face greater pressure to demonstrate the integrity of offsets used in net zero and climate strategies.

As regulators and standard-setters continue to shape disclosure requirements and climate accountability frameworks, independent ratings are likely to play a larger role in risk management and procurement decisions. By embedding third-party assessments into its investment decision-making, Mirova is aligning its carbon strategies with growing expectations for transparency, credibility, and verifiable impact.

The move reflects a broader effort across global markets to restore confidence in carbon credits and ensure that climate finance supports projects delivering measurable environmental and social benefits.

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