Pricing nature: carbon and biodiversity credits explained

7 May 2026

Pricing nature: carbon and biodiversity credits explained

Carbon and biodiversity credits are often discussed together as tools for pricing nature.
This can give the impression that they perform a similar role in investment strategies. In practice, they price fundamentally different things, behave differently in markets and should be treated accordingly by investors.

In this Market Musings paper, we explore the distinctions between carbon and biodiversity credits and explain what they mean for investment committees today. Read the full article to understand how pricing nature can support disciplined investment decisions without overstating the role of credits in the return case.

Read the article Read more about Natural Capital

Disclaimer

Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management NV (VLK Investment Management) is licensed as a manager of various UCITS and AIFs and is authorised to provide investment services and as such is subject to supervision by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets.

This document is for information purposes only and provides insufficient information for an investment decision.This document does not contain investment advice, no investment recommendation, no research, or an invitation to buy or sell any financial instruments, and should not be interpreted as such.

The opinions expressed in this document are our opinions and views as of the date of publication only.

Il y a un dicton en néerlandais, Kom verder, qui ui signifie beaucoup de choses, et c'est notre philosophie d'entreprise. Il reflète la façon dont nous travaillons avec nos clients, mais aussi la manière dont nous dirigeons nos entreprises participantes pour créer de la valeur pour les actionnaires grâce à un engagement actif.

Risque de perte en capital. La valeur des investissements et des revenus qui en découlent peut évoluer à la hausse comme à la baisse. Les investisseurs sont susceptibles de ne pas récupérer l’intégralité de leur investissement initial. Les performances passées ne présagent pas des performances futures et ne sont pas constantes dans le temps.