OUR STORY
Reimagining the Blue Carbon Landscape
We believe restoring coastal and marine ecosystems is essential for a resilient planet. Fair Carbon was founded to break down the barriers to developing high-integrity blue carbon projects and to support communities leading the way.
Our Origins
In 2018, John Vermilye, a long-time ocean advocate, started looking into blue carbon as a way to mitigate the residual footprints of his travel security business. John and Antoinette Vermilye, as Co-Founders of the Gallifrey Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting ocean conservation initiatives worldwide, were already active in marine conservation.
Yet, what they have found on blue carbon, left them disappointed. Through The Gallifrey Foundation, they started a year-long research project looking into the blue carbon market, which culminated in the 2020 Blue Carbon – Mind the Gap report. They discovered the market’s untapped potential to restore ecosystems, combat climate change and support local communities, but they also found that the market was underdeveloped, fragmented and inaccessible due to its technical complexity, with only a handful of certified blue carbon projects worldwide.
The solution was obvious; lower the barriers to creating credible and successful blue carbon projects and bridge the gap between local communities, investors, corporations and philanthropists. This realisation led to the establishment of Fair Carbon, which brings together a group of passionate individuals to support the stewards of coastal and marine ecosystems with information and capacity building they need to champion a more resilient and regenerative future for our beautiful planet.
Our Purpose
Our coastal and marine ecosystems play an essential role in our planet’s health. These diverse landscapes are critical to climate regulation, offer habitat for various species, and provide livelihoods for millions of people across the globe. Yet, researchers estimate that over the past fifty years, half of the world’s mangroves, tidal marshes, and thirty percent of global seagrass meadows have been lost.
The health and resilience of these habitats play a vital role in the future of our planet. We exist to support stewards of these ecosystems to protect and regenerate their lands. Unfortunately, various barriers currently prevent communities, investors and local stakeholders from accessing the resources they need to do so.
Driven by our purpose, our mission is to facilitate the development and growth of a high-integrity blue carbon market for the many, not the few. Through these efforts, we are contributing to build nature markets that give communities and organizations, regardless of their size or location, a chance to play a role in protecting and restoring these beautiful ecosystems.
Our Vision
At Fair Carbon, we dare to dream of a world where we have harnessed the potential of blue carbon and unleashed the power of coastal and marine ecosystems to create a regenerative future for our planet and its people.
We envision a world where local communities benefit from their efforts to protect and restore natural habitats. A world where their collaborative work is rewarded fairly and equitably, enabling them to provide for their families, and build a future for their communities with pride.
In this world, a high-integrity carbon and nature market is booming, and is an integral part of the global economy. Diverse voices from around the world - scientists, policymakers, business leaders, indigenous peoples and conservationists - come together to develop and implement strategies to achieve planetary-scale conservation and restoration.
Our Values
Community first, science-led project development
We support local communities to protect and restore natural resources by making blue carbon science accessible, enabling ethical, high-integrity restoration grounded in science, community engagement, and long-term impact.
Collaboration over
competition
We prioritize collaboration over competition, fostering partnerships and working together to increase transparency in the markets and achieve shared goals.
Purpose before profit
We are a mission-driven nonprofit working to restore coastal ecosystems and build a high-integrity blue carbon market. We measure success by getting high-quality projects to market, reinvesting all revenue to lower barriers, empower communities, and enable equitable, long-term impact.
