Tech powerhouse Apple has enhanced its sustainability initiatives by acquiring 100,000 jurisdictional carbon credits linked to Guyana’s expansive forests. These credits encompass all 18 million hectares of forest land in the country, approximately 85% of Guyana’s total area. This initiative allows Guyana to capitalize on its historically low deforestation rates while supporting its low-carbon developmental goals, as highlighted in Apple’s 2025 Environmental Progress report, which lauds the nation as an essential hub for biodiversity.
Guyana has pioneered one of the world’s first Low-Carbon Development Strategies, which facilitates its entry into the voluntary carbon credit market. The Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) recently awarded 7.14 million vintage carbon credits to Guyana, marking a significant stride in the global endeavor against climate change.
Additionally, the Guyanese government introduced the world’s first corresponding adjustment under the Paris Agreement, a crucial advancement recognized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These developments have allowed the credits to be eligible for use by airlines aiming to meet their targets in the upcoming phase of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) emissions reduction program, CORSIA.
The ART’s TREES credits affirm Guyana’s achievements in reducing emissions linked to deforestation while preserving one of the most intact tropical forests globally through REDD+ initiatives. Apple’s Vice President of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, Lisa Jackson, emphasized the company’s commitment to innovate in technology while actively combating climate change. Since 2015, Apple has successfully lowered carbon emissions by over 60% while experiencing a revenue increase of more than 65%, eliminating over 41 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2023 alone.
Source: guyanachronicle.com
