ACR Climate Brief | April 2026

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April 24, 2026

Happy Anniversary ACR: 30 Years of Climate Impact

For 30 years, ACR has helped shape the evolution of carbon markets. From establishing the world’s first private greenhouse gas crediting program and issuing the world’s first serialized carbon credits, to helping pioneer the next generation of carbon crediting, ACR has worked to build the standards, infrastructure, and trust needed to scale climate action.

In recognition of our anniversary, we created an animated video highlighting 30 years of climate impact.

Watch the video

SPOTLIGHT

2026 ACR Climate Impact Awards Celebrate Action

Late last month, ACR recognized trailblazing individuals and organizations for their commitments to climate action at its 2026 ACR Climate Impact Awards, which has been held annually for nearly 20 years. The 2026 ACR Climate Leadership Award was presented to Susan Biniaz, a lawyer and U.S. climate negotiator who is widely regarded as one of the most influential architects of international climate policy, including the Paris Climate Agreement. ACR also recognized 1PointFive and REI Co-Op with awards.

“These award winners demonstrate that action is an antidote, especially in challenging times,” said Mary Grady, Executive Director of ACR. “From international climate policy to corporate climate achievement and project-level actions, these leaders show the vast array of opportunities to take practical steps forward to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. We thank each of the award winners for their tireless dedication.”

Read about the award winners and view event photos

ACR UPDATES

Framework for Remotely Sensed Quantification of Forest Carbon

Late last month, ACR published the Framework for Remotely Sensed Quantification of Forest Carbon, which prescribes quantification standards, validation guidelines and steps for employing Predictive Models based on Remote Sensing of carbon pools in ACR forest carbon projects.

Learn more and download the Framework

Improved Forest Management v2.0 Earns CCP Approval

ACR’s Improved Forest Management (IFM) on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands methodology version 2.0 earned Core Carbon Principles (CCP) approval from the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) in February 2026.

Learn more

Exploring Co-Benefits Certification on Tribal Lands

The National Indian Carbon Coalition and ACR have formed a cooperative relationship to explore, design and implement a framework for certification of co-benefits associated with carbon projects on Indigenous lands in the U.S. and Canada.

Learn more

Photo credit: Stephen Taglieri

Increasing Landfill Gas Capture

LoCI Controls approached the Cumberland County, NJ landfill with an innovative idea. At first it sounded too good to be true; LoCI would install its cutting-edge, real-time data and automated control system, which would increase gas collection efficiency at no cost to the landfill. To make it possible, the landfill would become a carbon project, and the sale of credits would cover the costs.

Read the case study

Q&A with Margaret Williams, ACR Director of Co-Benefits Certification

Earlier this year, Margaret Williams, PhD, rejoined the ACR team as our inaugural Director of Co-Benefits Certification. Tasked with building a new program to verify the environmental and social benefits achieved though the development of carbon projects registered with ACR, Margaret brings experience developing carbon projects, buying carbon credits and managing standards and methodologies to her work. Notably, she served as ACR’s Technical Director and Director of Industrial Programs from 2015-2022. She holds a PhD in Atmospheric Chemistry and completed postdoctoral research at the NASA Ames Research Center and the University of California, Irvine. We sat down with her recently to ask a few questions.

Read the interview