A Market in Flux, A Mission Renewed: Mike Korchinsky on REDD+, Criticism, and the Birth of Equitable Earth
In Episode 21 of This Week in Carbon, we sat down with Mike Korchinsky, founder of Wildlife Works and a pioneer of REDD+, for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation about the past, present, and future of the voluntary carbon market (VCM). With more than 30 years of experience in conservation finance, Mike has not only shaped the market, but also challenged it to evolve. Wildlife Works’ Kasigau Corridor project in Kenya was the first REDD+ project to issue credits under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), a milestone that helped define a new asset class. But it also exposed Mike to the challenges that would later test the market’s credibility. Today, as public scrutiny mounts and demand stalls, Mike's perspective offers clarity, accountability, and a clear-eyed path forward.