PFI Featured in Carbon Pulse analysis of the EU roadmap to nature credits
A recent analysis by Carbon Pulse has highlighted the emerging European nature credit marker and PFI’s role on the newly established EU expert group on nature credits. The new expert group has begun advising on a potential EU-wide nature market, with early debates focusing on regulation, governance, and alignment with existing EU laws such as the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) and the Common Agricultural Policy.
Defining a “nature credit” is a priority: A central early challenge is agreeing on what a nature credit actually is, how it differs from certificates, and how it can function as a credible market instrument without replacing public funding or undermining ecological integrity.
Peatland Finance Ireland (PFI) is among the contributors highlighting the need for strong alignment between nature credits and other EU frameworks, particularly carbon markets and the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF).
PFI founder and director Shane Mc Guinness has emerged as a vocal voice in the group, arguing that poorly defined nature credits risk confusing buyers and CFOs. He stresses that nature credits must be clearly linked to EU climate, carbon farming, and circular economy policies to gain credibility and demand.
Mc Guinness supports allowing offsetting within the nature credit market, provided it is tightly regulated and strictly aligned with the mitigation hierarchy. Regulated offsetting is preferable to unregulated practices that are already occurring, as it enables traceability and accountability.
PFI and others emphasise that nature credits should complement, not replace, public investment in conservation and restoration, and should be designed to avoid greenwashing or double counting with carbon credits.