Carbon credit retirements in public registries reached 7,898,417 credits (7.90 million) in the 30 days from 11 September to 10 October 2026, up 99.5% from 3,959,423 credits (3.96 million) in the previous 30-day period, according to CarbonMeld registry data. The figures cover Verra, the American Carbon Registry (ACR), Gold Standard, the Climate Action Reserve and ART TREES. For buyers, developers and investors who follow retirement records, volume rose at every registry that had records in both periods, though the records do not say who retired the credits or why.
The Period in Numbers
The total of 7.90 million credits compares with 3.96 million credits in the period from 12 August to 10 September 2026. The change is +99.5%. Four registries recorded more credits than in the earlier period, and a fifth, ART TREES, recorded credits where the previous period had none.
The figures are totals of the retirement records that each registry publishes, as read by CarbonMeld. Registries publish with delays, so the latest days can still grow. That caveat applies to every number below.
Registry by Registry
Verra (VCS) accounted for 5,784,500 credits (5.78 million) in 1,396 retirement records. The previous period showed 3,044,228 credits in 1,587 records, so volume rose 90.0% while the record count fell. Records were read up to 10 October 2026.
The American Carbon Registry recorded 906,023 credits (906.0 thousand) in 179 records, against 356,605 credits in 166 records before. That is an increase of 154.1%. Its records were read up to 9 October 2026.
Gold Standard recorded 871,728 credits (871.7 thousand) in 228 records. The previous period showed 400,449 credits in 492 records, a rise of 117.7%. Here too the number of records fell while volume grew. Gold Standard records were read only up to 4 October 2026, so the latest six days of the window are not covered.
The Climate Action Reserve recorded 183,398 credits (183.4 thousand) in 25 records, against 158,141 credits in 22 records, an increase of 16.0%. Its records were read up to 9 October 2026.
ART TREES recorded 152,768 credits (152.8 thousand) in 6 retirement records. The previous period had 0 credits in 0 records. ART TREES records were read up to 30 September 2026.
The Five Largest Retirements by Project
Five projects led the period, all of them Verra projects:
- Southern Cardamom (VCS-1748, Cambodia): 460,632 credits (460.6 thousand).
- The Mai Ndombe REDD+ Project (VCS-934, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the): 450,376 credits (450.4 thousand).
- Rio Anapu-Pacaja REDD Project (VCS-2252, Brazil): 260,223 credits (260.2 thousand).
- Bundled Solar Photovoltaic Project by ACME (VCS-1753, India): 255,626 credits (255.6 thousand).
- BRAZILIAN AMAZON APD GROUPED PROJECT (VCS-2551, Brazil): 251,963 credits (252.0 thousand).
Three of the five are forest projects by name (REDD or APD), in Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Brazil, and two of them are in Brazil. The fourth is a solar project in India. The records give project names and volumes, not the reasons for the retirements.
Volume Up, Record Counts Mixed
The record counts do not move in step with volume. Verra’s count fell from 1,587 to 1,396 while its volume rose 90.0%. Gold Standard’s count fell from 492 to 228 while its volume rose 117.7%. ACR and the Climate Action Reserve show more records alongside more credits.
That means the average size of a retirement record grew at Verra and Gold Standard. Whether larger single retirements account for the increase is visible only in part: the five projects listed above cover a share of the total, but the data do not show how the rest is distributed.
What the Records Do Not Show
The registry records do not name buyers or beneficiaries. They show that credits were retired, not the purpose of the retirement or whether the same buyer acted more than once. Any reading of motive or demand would go beyond what the data contain.
The read-up-to dates also differ by registry, from 30 September for ART TREES to 10 October for Verra. A comparison across registries therefore covers slightly different windows.
What to Watch
Three points will matter in the coming reports. First, whether the latest days grow as registries publish late records, especially at Gold Standard and ART TREES, where the read dates end earlier. Second, whether the 30-day total stays near 7.90 million credits or returns toward the earlier 3.96 million. Third, whether Verra’s record count stays near 1,396 or moves back toward 1,587.
Whether this level continues is not yet visible in the records. One 30-day window is a narrow base, and publication delays mean the comparison is provisional. Buyers and developers following retirement data should read the figure as a measurement of published records for a single period and compare it with later updates for the same dates.
