“Over the years we’ve invested significantly in our field data team - focusing on producing trusted ratings. While this ensures the accuracy of our Ratings, it doesn’t allow the scale across the thousands of projects that buyers are considering.”
For more information on carbon credit procurement trends, read our "Key Takeaways for 2025" article. We share five, data-backed tips to improve your procurement strategy.
One more thing: Connect to Supply customers also get access to the rest of Sylvera's tools. That means you can easily see project ratings and evaluate an individual project's strengths, procure quality carbon credits, and even monitor project activity (particularly if you’ve invested at the pre-issuance stage.)
Book a free demo of Sylvera to see our platform's procurement and reporting features in action.
Strengthening our Asia-Pacific presence with strategic appointment ahead of Japan's full-scale emissions trading system implementation
Sylvera is pleased to announce the appointment of Yuki Katsumura as Country Manager for Japan, marking the company's formal entry into the Japanese carbon market ahead of the country's transition to mandatory emissions trading under the GX-ETS (Green Transformation Emissions Trading System) in 2026.
Yuki Katsumura began his career at Okasan Securities, before joining Bloomberg, where he led enterprise sales and later managed teams serving sell-side institutions, corporates, and government agencies. In 2021, he moved to Slalom, where he drove business development for financial institutions and global enterprises. Most recently, at S&P Global Market Intelligence, Yuki managed key accounts across the banking, securities, and insurance sectors, with a focus on derivatives pricing and valuation data.
The strategic appointment positions Sylvera to support Japanese corporations, financial institutions, and government entities as they navigate the evolving carbon credit landscape, particularly as Japan's GX-ETS becomes Asia's second-largest carbon market, transitioning from voluntary to mandatory compliance by 2026 with approximately 400 companies expected to participate.
Proven Expertise in Japanese Carbon Markets
Sylvera brings deep experience in Japan's carbon credit ecosystem, having conducted the first independent assessments of Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) projects in 2024. The company's analysis found strong governance and transparency in JCM design, particularly when compared to other bilateral carbon trading mechanisms, positioning Japan as a positive precedent for how government-led carbon trading can scale responsibly.
"Japan's leadership in operationalizing international carbon trading through the JCM has been instrumental in shaping broader market development across Asia," said Dr Allister Furey, CEO of Sylvera. "With the GX-ETS moving toward full mandatory implementation and J-Credits now trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Japanese companies need trusted, independent ratings to navigate credit quality, risk, and pricing decisions with confidence."
Supporting Article 6 and International Market Development
Sylvera's expansion into Japan builds on its extensive work supporting governments and corporations in implementing Article 6 frameworks under the Paris Agreement. The company is actively supporting both buying and selling governments, including partnerships with Singapore and other Southeast Asian governments on procurement and credit evaluation, as well as collaboration with UNDP on capacity building in host countries.
Furey added "Japanese companies have shown strong commercial demand for high-integrity carbon credits, and our pre-issuance solutions are gaining particular traction with buyers looking to secure quality supply early,"
"High-integrity credits consistently perform better in terms of price, value retention, and reputational safety — critical factors as Japanese companies prepare for mandatory compliance under GX-ETS."
Strategic Market Entry at Critical Juncture
Katsumura joins Sylvera as the first phase of Japan's GX-ETS concludes in March 2026, with the system targeting a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in alignment with Japan's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The Japanese government will accept international voluntary carbon removal credits for compliance obligations, creating new opportunities for global credit procurement and quality assessment.
Yuki Katsumura, newly appointed Country Manager for Japan said: "The Japanese market represents a significant opportunity as it moves toward mandatory carbon trading."
"Companies across steel, chemicals, and power generation sectors need clarity on both environmental integrity and financial value of credits. Sylvera's independent ratings and data intelligence will be essential in enabling smarter, more confident decisions across the entire credit lifecycle."
About GX-ETS
Japan's Green Transformation Emissions Trading System (GX-ETS) launched as a voluntary system in 2023 and will transition to mandatory compliance in 2026. The system aims to achieve Japan's 2030 greenhouse gas reduction targets while supporting the country's broader green transformation strategy. J-Credits and JCM credits are eligible for trading within the system.
