An expert roundtable during the launch, moderated by Mr. Zulfiqar Younas, Senior Advisor, Climate Finance at the CVF-V20 Secretariat, examined how projects move from mitigation potential to registration, issuance and finance. He elaborated that given the theme of the COP31 as Implementation COP, CVF has also enhanced its focus on implementation and theme of the Panel discussion is to facilitate CVF member countries to develop high integrity projects by attracting investments for the climate vulnerable countries and emphasis is on delivery i.e. translating policy frameworks into credible projects, investment partnerships and verified emissions reductions. The objective is to move promising projects through preparation, due diligence and financing, and ultimately towards credible credit issuance and sales. 

Mr. Kishor Rajhansa, Deputy CEO of the Global Carbon Council (GCC), said host-country authorization is now required for compliance credits and increasingly sought by voluntary buyers. He added that authorization strengthens integrity, because the host government commits to a corresponding adjustment. He proposed extending to CVF-V20 countries a new World Bank-backed Global Carbon Council (GCC) program for Eastern and Southern Africa that uses digital monitoring, reporting, and verification to cut transaction costs subject to mutual consent of the World Bank and CVF-V20.

Mr. Yamaguchi Kenichiro, Fellow at Mitsubishi Research Institute, pointed to the interlinkages  between bankability and additionality. “With a carbon credit project you go to the bank and say, sorry, this is not profitable. This is like an inverted world,” he said. He mentioned that getting carbon credits under Article 6.4 is becoming challenging due to complexity of processes and there is a need to develop capacity among the vulnerable countries. 

Ms. Olga Gassan-zade, Member and Former Chair of the UNFCCC Article 6.4 Supervisory Body, urged countries to build their own expertise and take seats on UNFCCC expert panels. “If you don’t have a voice, somebody else has a voice, and they might not represent your best interests,” she said. She also encouraged vulnerable countries to develop/encourage local DoEs for A6.4 to facilitate national credit pipeline. 

Mr. Boyang Jin, National Chair of the Carbon Market Working Group of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, pointed to China’s expanding carbon market as a growing source of demand. He advised developers to seek certification from a recognized standard and said authorized Article 6 credits are likely to command the highest value. He also praised CVF-V20 efforts to engage Chinese Carbon Markets for the benefit of vulnerable countries and showed confidence that it will be a mutually beneficial collaboration. 

Summing up the panel discussion, Younas thanked the distinguished panelists for their valuable insights. He mentioned that the priority is clear: turn policy readiness into credible projects, trusted credits and investment partnerships. He hoped that dialogue would augur well for the carbon finance landscape of vulnerable countries—unlocking technology, capital and fair market access while safeguarding environmental integrity and national climate ambitions.