As a carbon credit developer, we participated in the “JETRO Cambodia Frontier Market Green Business Project Event” hosted by JETRO.
Green Carbon, Inc. (Representative Director: Jun Okita; hereinafter “Green Carbon”), a company engaged in the development and sale of nature-based carbon credits, announced its participation in the “JETRO Cambodia Frontier Market Green Business Project Event” (hereinafter “the Project”), an agricultural initiative hosted by JETRO aimed at generating carbon credits in Cambodia. The company also announced its plans for long-term business expansion within the country.
Following the successful launch of its initial project in April 2025 in Battambang Province, located in northwestern Cambodia, the company will expand its rice paddy project—utilizing Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD*¹) in rice cultivation—to a scale of over 500,000 hectares across 8 to 10 provinces in Cambodia. Through this expansion, the company expects to generate approximately 20 million tons of CO₂ emission reductions (ERs) over the next 10 years.
◆Background of the Project Launch
Green Carbon is engaged in the creation of nature-based carbon credits, primarily in Southeast Asia, and operates projects across a wide range of fields including forest conservation, rice paddies, mangrove planting, methane reduction from cattle, and biochar initiatives. The company develops carbon credit generation projects tailored to the characteristics of natural resources in each region, while leveraging satellite data for site selection and monitoring to achieve efficient and highly transparent project management.
Since April 2024, Green Carbon has participated as a cooperating organization in the SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development) project, led by the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) as the primary research institution. (hereinafter “SATREPS Project”) This initiative aims to develop and implement greenhouse gas reduction technologies in Cambodia through the establishment of a water management system for rice paddies.
In addition, since October 2024, Green Carbon has been conducting joint research with the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) to advance pilot demonstrations in Battambang Province. Following the official project launch in April 2025, the company plans to expand coverage to approximately 30,000 hectares of rice paddies within the province within three years, with the goal of generating a cumulative total of about 1.3 million carbon credits over the next 10 years.
The Battambang project marks the first initiative by a Japanese company in Cambodia aimed at reducing methane emissions from rice paddies for practical deployment. It stands as a pioneering effort to combine sustainable agriculture with climate change mitigation.
Building on these achievements, Green Carbon has developed a vision for large-scale expansion within Cambodia. The company plans to extend its operations to over 500,000 hectares across 8 to 10 provinces, aiming to achieve approximately 20 million tons of CO₂ emission reductions (ERs) and generate corresponding carbon credits over the next 10 years.
To realize this vision, the company is also considering investments in three to five biochar plants by 2028. Leveraging its existing business foundation, Green Carbon plans to expand its scope into carbon farming, agroforestry, and reforestation projects, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation, improved soil health, and sustainable land management in Cambodia.
This announcement was made during a courtesy visit to the Cambodian Minister of Environment, held as part of the “JETRO Cambodia Frontier Market Green Business Project Event” in Phnom Penh on July 23–24, 2025.
◆Outcomes of the Site Visits and Business Meetings
During the event, Green Carbon took part in a field visit to Kampong Chhnang Province, located in central Cambodia, where the team toured a farm that has implemented a solar-powered irrigation system. Following this, the company attended a courtesy meeting with the Cambodian Minister of Environment and the Carbon Credit Working Group.
On the second day, Green Carbon participated in a symposium on the design of the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM)*². In the business pitching session, the company presented its initiatives and business plans across ASEAN countries. It also held individual business meetings with five leading companies from Cambodia’s agriculture, waste management, and reforestation sectors.
The event concluded with a reception hosted by the Embassy of Japan in Cambodia at the Ambassador’s residence.
At this event, the Cambodian Ministry of Environment announced the following key updates regarding the country’s carbon credit system, in compliance with the Paris Agreement (Articles 6.1, 6.2, 6.4, and 6.8).
| Cambodia plans to formulate its updated NDC 3.0, which sets a target of reducing emissions by 57% compared to the BAU (Business-as-Usual) scenario by 2035. |
| Paris Agreement Article 6.1 (Forestry): Credits generated will be counted toward Cambodia’s NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution) and therefore cannot be exported. However, transfers to companies are possible under long-term contracts of approximately 15 years. |
| Paris Agreement Article 6.2: Encourages private investment in decarbonization projects in Cambodia. Credits generated can, with the approval of the Cambodian government, be recognized as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) with Corresponding Adjustments (CA). |
| Cambodia is currently the only country in Asia with an approved Article 6 operational manual for the carbon credit market. |
| Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has announced plans to submit an AWD methodology under the JCM, targeting Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. |
◆Future Developments
Green Carbon has officially submitted its Project Idea Note (PIN) to the Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC) and is currently proceeding with the project registration process under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) framework, in coordination with both the Cambodian Ministry of Environment and Japan’s JCM Secretariat.
In Battambang Province, Green Carbon is currently implementing its first full-scale AWD rice cultivation project, covering 1,000 hectares during the 2025 rainy season. The company plans to steadily expand the project’s scale in subsequent cropping seasons. This expansion builds on the success of the 2024 pilot project, which demonstrated that significant reductions in methane emissions can be achieved while increasing rice yields—proving beneficial both environmentally and economically.
Looking ahead, the company aims to expand operations to over 500,000 hectares across 8 to 10 provinces in Cambodia, targeting approximately 20 million tons of CO₂ emission reductions (ERs) and the generation of corresponding carbon credits over the next 10 years.
Overview of the JETRO Cambodia Frontier Market Green Business Project Event
The JETRO Cambodia Frontier Market Green Business Project: Cambodia On-Site Visit and Business Meeting was organized by JETRO, bringing together key stakeholders from both Japan and Cambodia.
Major participants included JETRO, JAXA, the Ministries of Environment (MoE) and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) from both Japan and Cambodia, H.E. Atsushi Ueno, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Cambodia, as well as Japanese companies—Green Carbon, Inc., Sagri Co., Ltd., Faeger Co., Ltd., Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., GOMI-Solutions, Arkeda Co., Ltd., and SpaceBlast Co., Ltd.—alongside Cambodian companies.
※1：AWD (Alternate Wetting and Drying)
AWDは水田の水位を目安に、数日おきに入水と自然乾燥を繰り返すという手法になります。AWDの場合、連続的な入水に比べ、水使用量を削減することができ、水資源の保全にも寄与します。
※2：Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM)
The Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) is a bilateral framework through which Japan contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in partner countries by promoting the dissemination of Japan’s advanced decarbonization technologies. The resulting emission reductions are then used to help both countries achieve their respective reduction targets. Led by the Japanese government, the JCM is established between Japan and its partner countries, with 29 countries participating as of February 2024.
◆Green Carbon, Inc.
Representative : CEO Jun Okita
Address : 9F Hanzomon PREX North, 2 Chome-3-2 Kojimachi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo, Japan 102-0083
Founded : December 2019
Business Operations : Creation and Selling of Carbon Credits, Agricultural Business, Environmental Business, Businesses related to Environmental Consulting, and others.
URL : https://green-carbon.co.jp/
◆Introduction to Green Carbon’s Business
Green Carbon operates under the vision of “Saving the Earth with the Power of Life” providing comprehensive support for the creation, registration, and sale of nature-based carbon credits both in Japan and overseas. In addition, the company engages in agricultural-related businesses, research and development projects, and ESG consulting services.
Green Carbon’s business operations span Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, and South America, focusing on the creation of nature-based carbon credits from sources such as rice paddies, biochar, forest conservation, carbon farming, mangrove planting, and methane reduction from cattle.
In Japan’s rice paddies, the company obtained certification in FY2023 for the nation’s first and largest J-Credit project in the category (approximately 6,220 tons). In FY2024, the scale has expanded to around 40,000 hectares (approximately 85,000 tons).
Green Carbon also offers Agreen, a one-stop platform that covers credit registration, application, and sales. The service streamlines procedures and document preparation required for credit application and registration, thereby reducing the workload for credit creators.
◆Here are Green Carbon, Inc.’s official social media channels
Carbon Credits Journal：https://biz-journal.jp/carboncredits/
Linkedin ：https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-carbon-inc/
Facebook：https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557429326458
X ：https://mobile.x.com/GreenCarbon2019
Wantedly：https://www.wantedly.com/companies/greencarbon2019
Youtube ：https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYO4WnGOHDaVB1ikxheZasA
note ：https://note.com/green_carbon/