Climate alliance leader allegedly used environmental network to advance private carbon credit business

A new investigation reveals how the secretary-general of a prominent climate alliance may have exploited his position to promote private business interests at the expense of South America’s second-largest forest ecosystem.

Capital Cities 35 (CC35), a climate network representing mayors across the Americas, helped announce a $200 million carbon credit deal in 2021 at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. The agreement between Miami-based startup Global Carbon Parks Inc. and Argentina’s Santiago del Estero province promised to support conservation and decarbonization efforts in the Gran Chaco forest region. However, a Mongabay investigation suggests that CC35’s secretary-general, Sebastián Navarro, controlled Global Carbon Parks through his holding company and used the climate alliance to advance his private carbon trading ventures.

The revelations are particularly troubling given the Gran Chaco’s environmental importance and ongoing destruction. This vast dry forest ecosystem spans 65 million hectares across Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay, supporting thousands of plant and animal species and 9 million people. Over recent decades, the region has lost about 25% of its area to agriculture, with Santiago del Estero province alone losing 54,000 hectares in 2024.

The case highlights growing concerns about the integrity of carbon credit markets and the potential for conflicts of interest within climate organizations. As environmental groups and government officials increasingly rely on such networks to coordinate climate action, ensuring transparency and accountability becomes crucial for maintaining public trust in global climate initiatives.