The new Carbon Market Law was approved by means of Ordinance-Law No. 26/016, of 7 September 2026.

This statute establishes the legal framework for the carbon market in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (“DRC”) and aims at ensuring a high-integrity carbon market, aligned with the global climate efforts, the fight against poverty and the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems.

In particular, the new statute governs:

• The institutional framework for the carbon market sector;
• The rules on implementation of carbon projects (VCM and Article 6 mechanisms);
• The National Carbon Registry, as a sovereign system for registering mitigation outcomes, both domestic and internationally transferred;
• The requirements relating to environmental and social integrity, and sustainable development; and
• The rules for Monitoring, Reporting, Verification and benefit sharing.

The rules set forth therein apply to all mitigation activities carried out within the DRC by either domestic or foreign players, and to activities carried out outside the territory of the DRC that are intended to generate Mitigation Outcomes to be registered with the National Carbon Registry or duly authorized under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Mitigation activities implemented by the State for the sole purpose of fulfilling the unconditional component of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) are excluded.

Authorization letters already issued for ongoing projects shall remain valid. Notwithstanding, project developers, participating parties and/or independent entities involved in ongoing projects, shall have a 6-months period to comply with the new rules.

The new Carbon Market Law came into force on 7 September 2026.

For further information of this Alert please contact:
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