90 Tanzania firms register for carbon trading, as it rapidly expands the green economy sector

DAR ES SALAAM: OVER 90 Tanzanian companies have begun registering for carbon trading, as the country experiences a rapid expansion of the green economy sector that has already delivered multi-billion-shilling benefits to communities engaged in forest conservation.

This was revealed during a training session for journalists on the carbon trading business held in Dar es Salaam today, May 15, 2026, with experts saying that the growing interest of the business has led to eight companies already actively participating in carbon trading, while a total of 99 companies are currently at different stages of registration with the National Carbon Monitoring Centre (NCMC), which is responsible for coordinating carbon-related activities in the country.

Speaking at the training, the Acting Director of Measurement, Verification, Registration and Assessment of greenhouse gases at NCMC, Deo Shirima, said the companies engaged in the scheme are already generating tangible benefits, noting that residents of Tanganyika District alone received more than 14bn/- in 2024 through forest conservation initiatives linked to carbon markets.

Opening the training earlier, the Deputy Minister in the Vice-President’s Office (Union and Environment), Reuben Kwagilwa, said environmental protection remains a central pillar of Tanzania’s Vision 2050 development framework, warning that the government will not tolerate any investment or development activities that undermine environmental sustainability.

He said all economic activities aimed at building a trillion-dollar economy must be implemented without compromising environmental integrity, adding that Tanzania is strengthening enforcement against environmental degradation while promoting sustainable development practices.

“For us, environmental protection is non-negotiable. We will not allow any investment that ignores environmental standards. We will not implement projects that are not environmentally compliant,” he said.

He stressed that climate change challenges, including rising populations and expanding production activities, require the environment to be placed at the centre of national planning.

NCMC Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) Kathryn Kigaraba said the institution is rolling out nationwide awareness programmes to educate communities, companies and stakeholders on carbon trading opportunities to ensure inclusive participation in the growing sector.

She said carbon trading is becoming one of the fastest-growing climate finance mechanisms in Africa, offering countries like Tanzania a chance to benefit economically from forest conservation, clean energy initiatives and other emissions-reduction activities.

Carbon trading was established globally as a mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, allowing countries and companies that emit more carbon to compensate by financing environmental conservation projects in developing countries, particularly in forestry and renewable energy sectors.

National Carbon Monitoring Centre (NCMC) is Tanzania’s central government agency dedicated to managing and advancing the country’s climate action through carbon markets and related technologies. It operates at the intersection of environmental policy, digital governance, and international climate finance, overseeing a diverse portfolio of carbon projects.

The NCMC’s work encompasses various project types, including REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), Energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives, sustainable Transport solutions, and climate-smart Agriculture. It facilitates this by registering and implementing numerous carbon business projects that generate significant revenue, fostering high-level international partnerships, and leveraging advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence to address climate change across all sectors.