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Headway Earth and Rezonance, led by international carbon-market expert Dr. Divaldo Rezende, have launched the Carbon Market Development Mission Nepal to help develop the country’s emerging carbon-market and climate-finance ecosystem.

The initiative aims to build Nepal’s capacity to develop climate projects, strengthen carbon-market infrastructure and connect Nepali projects with international climate finance, investors and carbon buyers.

Nepal has significant potential in areas including forests, agriculture, renewable energy, waste management, biochar and other climate solutions.

The mission seeks to turn this potential into bankable climate projects, investment, employment and sustainable development opportunities for Nepali communities and businesses, said Pratik Karki, Founder and Managing Director of Headway Earth.

The mission will initially focus on three areas—capacity development, project development, and climate finance and market access.

Under capacity development, the initiative will seek to strengthen knowledge, skills and institutional capacity among government agencies, financial institutions, businesses, communities and other stakeholders on carbon markets, climate finance and international climate policy, Karki added.

Similarly, it will identify, design and develop high-quality climate and carbon projects across the country, with an emphasis on projects capable of attracting investment and delivering measurable environmental, social and economic benefits.

The mission will also seek to connect Nepali projects with international investors, climate funds, financial institutions, development partners and carbon buyers, creating pathways for Nepali climate projects to access global markets.

A key objective of the initiative is to help establish the institutional and financial infrastructure needed for a functioning national carbon ecosystem.

Highlighting the opportunities in Nepal, Dr. Rezende said Nepal has an opportunity to strengthen international confidence and position itself as an attractive destination for climate investment.

“The world wants to come to Nepal. Nepal is committing to zero corruption, and this can create a new level of confidence among international investors and climate partners,” he said.

Dr. Rezende brings extensive international experience in carbon markets, climate finance and sustainable development. He will work alongside Headway Earth to support Nepal’s integration into global climate-finance and carbon-market opportunities.

As part of its long-term vision, Headway Earth and Rezonance plan to work towards developing a Carbon Fund and Carbon Bank for Nepal to mobilise domestic and international capital for credible climate projects, said Prakash Gyawali, Chief Executive Officer of Headway Earth.

The initiative also aims to support the development and integration of a national carbon registry and carbon marketplace to improve transparency, traceability and market access for Nepali carbon and climate assets.

Technology and transparent measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) of climate impacts will form an important foundation of the proposed ecosystem.

According to CEO Gyawali, the initiative is not limited to generating carbon credits but aims to establish the wider ecosystem required to support the carbon market, including projects, technology, finance, capacity, a registry, a marketplace and access to international markets.