Can Innovative Carbon Mapping Tools Unlock a More Transparent Carbon Market?
At the heart of climate change mitigation is an urgent need to ensure that nature-based solutions (NbS) benefit both people and the planet. Through funding provided by the Palladium Challenge Fund in 2022, Space4Good‘s remote sensing-based carbon assessment solution Carbometrica has pioneered a fresh approach to carbon mapping—one that enhances accessibility, transparency, and accuracy in carbon certification. By developing innovative tools and collaborating with local partners, this project is driving global efforts to unlock the full potential of carbon markets and contribute to climate action.
Unlocking the Carbon Market for Project Developers
Access to the carbon market is often limited by high entry costs, complex verification processes, and a lack of reliable monitoring tools. These barriers prevent smaller-scale project developers from obtaining the support they need to implement nature-based solutions that could have a significant impact on mitigating climate change. This is where the Carbometrica project steps in.
The project’s dual approach to carbon mapping, which combines satellite imagery with high-resolution drone data, provides two distinct pathways for verifying carbon sequestration. The satellite-based method is low-cost, scalable, and accessible to a wide range of users. Meanwhile, the drone-based method delivers more precise results for smaller sites, offering a higher level of accuracy, which is essential for gaining credibility in the carbon market. Together, these methods provide developers with the flexibility and tools needed to verify their carbon projects, creating a much-needed bridge to global carbon markets.
The Space4Good and Masarang team collecting field data.
Local Partnerships Amplify Impact
One of the standout features of this project is its emphasis on working with strong local partners. Space4Good has teamed up with the Arsari Enviro Group and the Masarang Foundation in Indonesia to not only enhance carbon monitoring efforts but also contribute to broader community development. By empowering local teams to operate drones and conduct fieldwork, the project is helping to build local capacity in cutting-edge technologies. This partnership is a prime example of how carbon monitoring can be more than just a technical exercise—it can also serve as a catalyst for local employment and sustainable development.
As a direct result of these collaborations, the project has created employment opportunities for local workers, with an estimated full-time equivalent of one person dedicated to field operations and another in mixed field and organizational roles. This work also supports wider environmental and economic outcomes, including the relocation of a wildlife sanctuary and the production of sustainable non-timber forest products.
A Path Forward
Reflecting on the project’s outcomes and future plans, Alexander Gunkel, CEO of Space4Good, said: “This has been an amazing opportunity for us to further develop our biomass tool with the goal of supporting inspirational and aspirational project developers with the financial resources they so bitterly need. While the carbon market took several hits in recent years, tools like Carbometrica are here to restore trust in high-integrity projects and provide support along the value chain. The next step for us is to expand CarboCatch through pilots in new regions, scaling in Southeast Asia and new commercial partnerships.”
Thanks to the support from the Palladium Challenge Fund, Space4Good is now well-positioned to further develop and scale its innovative carbon mapping solutions, contributing to a more transparent and accessible carbon market that benefits both the environment and local communities.
Kyeema would like to express its gratitude to our corporate partner Palladium for generously funding the Palladium Challenge Fund and championing innovative solutions to address global challenges. This collaboration plays a pivotal role in creating sustainable, lasting impacts for communities around the world.
