Global carbon market revenue hit record 79 billion dollars
Global carbon revenue hit 79 billion dollars in 2025. The International Carbon Action Partnership reports 41 systems now cover 26 percent of global emissions.
Global emissions trading systems (ETS) reached a historic milestone in 2025, generating a record $79 billion in revenues. According to the annual Emissions Trading Worldwide Status Report released by the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP), this figure represents a significant increase from the approximately $70 billion recorded in 2024, a growth primarily attributed to higher average carbon prices across various markets.
An ETS functions by establishing a cap on the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions that specific sectors or groups of industries can produce. To ensure that total emissions decline over time, these caps are generally designed to decrease annually. Governments utilize these systems to meet climate objectives while simultaneously generating revenue through the auctioning of carbon permits.
