Épisodes

  • Carbon 101 – Demystifying Carbon Credits

    Carbon 101 – Demystifying Carbon Credits
    Sep 29 2025
    Carbon credits play a critical role in global climate action, yet their complexity often makes them challenging to understand.

    In this episode, Joseph Freimond, Sustainability Consultant at Brundtland, speaks with Henk Sa, Partner and Head of Carbon Finance at Brundtland, who brings over 20 years of experience in the global carbon industry. Together, they unpack the full carbon credit journey, from conception to commercialisation. Henk explains what carbon credits are, how they’re created and verified, and why concepts like additionality are key to ensuring real climate impact. He also shares why project developers should start carbon credit planning early, and addresses common concerns about quality and credibility in this evolving market.

    Whether you’re new to carbon markets or looking to deepen your expertise, this episode helps build a foundational understanding of one of the most important tools for driving emissions reductions.

    Key points of discussion:
    • What carbon credits are and how they offset emissions
    • The role of carbon standards, rules, and methodologies
    • Step-by-step process of registering, monitoring, and verifying carbon projects
    • Typical timeline and costs involved in generating credits
    • Understanding additionality and why it matters
    • Common challenges and misconceptions about carbon credits
    • Practical advice for integrating carbon credits into project development
    If you’re ready to navigate the world of carbon credits with confidence, this episode is your essential starting point.

    Want to keep the conversation going or learn more about what we do?
    📧 Get in touch at info@brundtland.co.za
    📞 Call us on (0)11 44 77 892 🌍 Explore our work · 🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn for updates, insights, and more
    Voir plus Voir moins
    21 min
  • Inside South Africa’s Draft Carbon Budget Regulations

    Inside South Africa’s Draft Carbon Budget Regulations
    Sep 15 2025
    South Africa’s draft carbon budget regulations are here – and they could reshape how companies manage and report greenhouse gas emissions.

    In this episode, Emma Reinecke speaks with Jan Willem Timmer, Principal Consultant at Brundtland, who played a key role in drafting the regulations, to unpack what they mean for businesses, policymakers, and South Africa’s climate commitments.

    We cover the basics: what a carbon budget is, who will be affected, and how the system links to the existing carbon tax. With mandatory budgets planned to take effect in 2026, understanding the phased rollout, compliance requirements, and allocation methods is crucial for businesses and policymakers alike.

    Key points of discussion:
    • What carbon budgets are and their role under the Climate Change Act
    • Which industries and emissions are covered, including thresholds for participation
    • How carbon budgets interact with South Africa’s carbon tax
    • The three allocation methodologies, including product-based benchmarking
    • Phased rollout: voluntary reporting to mandatory compliance
    • How stakeholder concerns have been addressed in the draft regulations

    The draft regulations are open for public comment until the end of September. Comments can be sent to SETSComments@dffe.gov.za.

    Want to keep the conversation going or learn more about what we do?
    📧 Get in touch at info@brundtland.co.za
    📞 Call us on (0)11 44 77 892 🌍 Explore our work · 🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn for updates, insights, and more
    Voir plus Voir moins
    20 min
  • CBAM 102 - Policy to Practice

    CBAM 102 - Policy to Practice
    Jul 15 2025
    In this episode, we explore the practical realities of complying with the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). We look at what South African exporters need to do to comply, what it might cost, and why it’s critical for maintaining access to European markets. We also unpack the risks of non-compliance, including heavy fines and reduced competitiveness, and discuss how decarbonisation and carbon pricing reforms can help mitigate CBAM impacts.

    Key points of discussion:
    • What is required to be CBAM-compliant
    • Whether companies in South Africa and abroad are ready for CBAM-compliance
    • The costs of reporting and verification under CBAM
    • Opportunities for compliant businesses
    • Global responses to CBAM and what to expect in the future
    • Practical steps South African companies can take to reduce exposure
    CBAM is evolving, with further changes likely soon – make sure your business stays ahead.
    Want to keep the conversation going or learn more about what we do?
    📧 Get in touch at info@brundtland.co.za
    📞 Call us on (0)11 44 77 892

    Keen to learn more about CBAM and its impacts? Check out these useful resources:
    • TIPS’ The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and implications for South African exports at https://bit.ly/4kva7t5
    • The Presidential Climate Commission’s Working Paper on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms and Implications for South Africa at https://bit.ly/46uk2LN
    • IETA’s Evolution of the Global Response to CBAM at https://bit.ly/4nBeLIz 🌍 Explore our work · 🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn for updates, insights, and more
    Voir plus Voir moins
    13 min
  • CBAM 101 - What it is and Why it Matters

    CBAM 101 - What it is and Why it Matters
    Jul 8 2025
    In this episode, we unpack the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and what it means for South African exporters. We explain how CBAM works, why it’s being implemented, and which local industries are most exposed. We also explore the expected costs, the impact of the South African carbon tax, and why Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems are now essential for exporters to the EU.

    Key points of discussion:
    • What CBAM is and why it matters
    • Sectors and countries most affected
    • Cost impacts for South African exporters
    • How CBAM interacts with the EU’s carbon market (ETS)
    • South Africa’s carbon tax and limited CBAM relief
    • The importance of MRV systems for compliance
    • Recent EU changes to simplify CBAM reporting

    Don’t miss the next episode, where we dive into how South African businesses can prepare for CBAM – and the risks and benefits of doing so.

    Want to keep the conversation going or learn more about what we do?
    📧 Get in touch at info@brundtland.co.za
    📞 Call us on (0)11 44 77 892

    Keen to learn more about CBAM and its impacts? Check out these useful resources:
    • Europe’s Taxation and Customs Union CBAM Questions and Answers at https://bit.ly/407HXNh
    • TIPS’ The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and implications for South African exports at https://bit.ly/4kva7t5
    • The Presidential Climate Commission’s Working Paper on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms and Implications for South Africa at https://bit.ly/46uk2LN 🌍 Explore our work · 🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn for updates, insights, and more
    Voir plus Voir moins
    16 min
  • The State of the Carbon Market - Part 2

    The State of the Carbon Market - Part 2
    May 28 2025
    In Part 2 of The State of the Carbon Market, Dumo Shezi and Henk SA dive deeper into the numbers, modelling how carbon credit supply and demand could evolve in South Africa through 2035. They unpack three possible futures for the market, and the where the potential supply gaps may occur, and explore the policy and private sector actions needed to close them.

    Key points of discussion:
    • Forecasting demand and supply for the South Africa Carbon Market
    • Scenario analysis: business as usual, green South Africa, grey South Africa
    • The implications of a supply-demand gap for the market
    • Policy interventions to boost credit generation
    • How the private sector must take bold action in carbon project development

    If you missed Part 1, be sure to go back and listen. And subscribe to Carbon Compass for future episodes exploring carbon markets, policy shifts, and project innovation.

    Want to keep the conversation going or learn more about what we do?
    📧 Get in touch at info@brundtland.co.za
    📞 Call us on (0)11 44 77 892
    🌍 Explore our work at https://www.brundtland.co.za/
    🔗 And follow us on LinkedIn for updates, insights, and more: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brundtland/posts/?feedView=all 🌍 Explore our work · 🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn for updates, insights, and more
    Voir plus Voir moins
    18 min
  • The State of the Carbon Market - Part 1

    The State of the Carbon Market - Part 1
    May 20 2025
    In the first instalment of this two-part series, Emma Reinecke and Henk Sa lay the groundwork for understanding South Africa’s carbon market. They explore what carbon credits are, how the country’s carbon tax works, and the role of the Carbon Offset Administration System (COAS) in managing credit supply and retirements. This episode sets the stage for a deeper dive into how we see the market evolving in Part 2.
    Key points of discussion:
    • What a carbon credit is and how it functions
    • Overview of South Africa’s carbon tax and its trajectory to 2030
    • Introduction to the COAS registry: listing, retirement, and stockpile
    • Market trends in credit issuance and use
    • Types of carbon projects and major buyers
    • How carbon credits fit into South Africa’s climate commitments

    Don’t miss Part 2, where we explore supply-demand forecasts and policy levers shaping the market’s future. Follow Carbon Compass to stay informed.

    Want to keep the conversation going or learn more about what we do?
    📧 Get in touch at info@brundtland.co.za
    📞 Call us on (0)11 44 77 892
    🌍 Explore our work at https://www.brundtland.co.za/
    🔗 And follow us on LinkedIn for updates, insights, and more: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brundtland/posts/?feedView=all 🌍 Explore our work · 🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn for updates, insights, and more
    Voir plus Voir moins
    27 min