UN’s new carbon market delivers first credits through Myanmar cookstove project

Climate Change News

by Matteo Civillini

February 26, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

The UN’s new carbon market has achieved a significant milestone with the approval of its first carbon credits from a clean cooking initiative in Myanmar. This project, which distributes energy-efficient cookstoves to reduce firewood use, has generated 60,000 credits, equivalent to tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided. The initiative was approved under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement after over a decade since its establishment and more than two years since it began under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The cookstove project, implemented by a South Korean NGO with private sector investment, aims to protect forests, reduce emissions, and improve public health in Myanmar. The credits are primarily intended for use by South Korean companies to meet their emissions targets under the country’s trading system, while Myanmar will also utilize some credits toward its national climate goals. This approval marks a crucial step forward for the UN carbon market, which seeks to channel finance to developing nations and support practical climate solutions. Clean cooking projects not only address deforestation and air pollution but also empower women and communities by reducing reliance on firewood collection. However, concerns remain about the quality of carbon credits, particularly regarding overestimated impacts and weak monitoring frameworks, which could undermine their effectiveness in driving real emissions reductions. The case of Myanmar highlights both the potential and challenges of carbon markets

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Originally published on Climate Change News on 2/26/2026