CARBON NEUTRAL ROYALTY ANNOUNCES LANDMARK GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH WORLDVIEW INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
LONDON, United Kingdom, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Carbon Neutral Royalty Ltd. ("CNR" or the "Company") (Private) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a carbon revenue stream agreement (the "Investment Agreement") with Worldview International Foundation and its related entities (collectively, "Worldview"). The Investment Agreement covers projects undertaken by Worldview in pursuit of carbon credits.
Worldview is one of the world's largest issuers of high-quality blue carbon credits and has foundations in the United States, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Gambia, and Myanmar. Worldview plans to establish new foundations in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Kenya, Ghana and Oman in 2022 and 2023. Worldview has over 100,000 hectares of mangrove restoration projects under Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with various governments and an additional 1,600 hectares for a seagrass restoration project. Worldview is targeting 500,000 hectares of mangrove restoration within ten years.
- Significant Exposure to Blue Carbon Credit Portfolio: Over 100,000 hectares of tropical wet, mangrove restoration areas with the potential to generate over 70 million Verified Carbon Units or VCUs to CNR's account over the life of the projects subject to the Investment Agreement.
- Premium Blue Carbon Segment: Blue Carbon has the highest effect on mitigation, as well as maintaining biodiversity and promoting the most diverse life-bearing ecosystems with significant co-benefits.
- High Margin Projects: Blue Carbon restoration projects are up to ten times more productive at sequestering carbon per hectare than terrestrial forests, and 1/3 the planting cost. Existing Worldview mangrove restoration projects have recently traded up to US$34/t.
- Significant Scalability: Worldview's global partnerships provides CNR exclusive right to a significant pipeline of mangrove restoration.
- Globally Recognized Project Developer: Worldview is a global leader in Blue Carbon Project Development. Worldview was founded in 1979 and has pioneered over 600 sustainable development projects in over 25 countries. Worldview was established and is led by Arne Fjortoft, former leader of the Norwegian opposition and a pioneer in wetland restoration. Worldview is advised by global leaders including the former Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden and Former Minister of the Environment of Norway.
Brett Heath, non-executive chairman of Carbon Neutral Royalty, commented "I am thrilled that Worldview has chosen to partner with CNR as their preferred global finance partner in their critical mission to restore wetlands across the world. Arne is one of the great inspirational leaders of our time, pioneering ground-breaking mangrove restoration that have saved endangered species on the IUCN Red Lists through propagation, transformed biodiversity while combatting climate change to the benefit of thousands of people in local communities,"
Arne Fjortoft, founder of Worldview International Foundation commented "On behalf of our highly motivated and competent staff, I am looking forward to expanding our capacity in partnership with CNR in support of the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. There is tremendous potential in natural climate solutions. CNR will contribute additional funding and competence to the development of these projects. Our partnership will provide urgently needed action with significant impact at this time of climate emergency."
TRANSACTION
CNR expects to start planting in Gambia, Kenya and Myanmar this year, targeting 7,000 ha of planting by the end of 2023 for staged payments by CNR for up to US$13m.
CNR will be entitled to 50% of the verified carbon credits generated over the life of the project. The remaining 50% will be for livelihoods and sustainable development of participatory communities. These benefits exclude the additional funding of community programs by CNR under the upfront investment cost, resulting in the communities being substantially the primary beneficiary in the projects. CNR is expected to receive Verified Carbon Units (or VCUs) under Verra's Verified Carbon Standard Program. Each VCU represents a reduction or removal of one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
CNR has also been granted a Right of First Investment to finance (a minimum of 50%) of Worldview's projects for a period of 5 years.
BLUE CARBON
Blue Carbon, captured by the world's oceans, represents more than 55% of the green carbon (captured by plants). The carbon captured by living organisms in oceans is stored in the form of sediments from mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses. It remains stored for millennia unlike other forestry which often stores for only decades. The ocean is the most effective carbon climate mitigator, circulating 83% of global carbon. Its algae production and mangrove shorelines are vital for its contribution to climate restoration and conservation. Mangrove restoration projects which have the highest effect on mitigation, as well as maintaining biodiversity and promoting life-bearing ecosystems, are ten times more productive at sequestering carbon per hectare than terrestrial forests and provide significant co-benefits. Mangroves tend to significantly improve biodiversity by providing a rich habitat for marine and bird nurseries. Fish stocks typically have increased by 50% where mangroves have been restored and directly responsible for the improvement of water quality. Mangroves can stabilize shorelines and guard against erosion, and vegetation cover typically leads to better soil conditions.
Blue Carbon projects generate most substantial value for financing and carbon income with existing Worldview projects that have recently sold carbon credits at prices up to US$34/t.
WORLDVIEW INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
Worldview is a global leader in Blue Carbon Project Development. Worldview has pioneered over 600 sustainable development projects in over 25 countries. Worldview specialises in blue carbon and has a globally renowned track record in mangrove restoration, conservation, and holds the world's largest mangrove seed bank. Worldview was founded in 1979 by Arne Fjortoft, a highly reputable conservationist and former leader of the Liberal party in Norway. Worldview plans international expansion across multiple countries, targeting 500,000 hectares of mangrove restoration over the next ten years.
ABOUT CARBON NEUTRAL ROYALTY
Carbon Neutral Royalty was founded in July 2021 by an experienced team and is assembling a high-quality, long-life, portfolio of carbon credit streams and royalty projects across the world. The company's goal is to increase shareholder value by adding accretive acquisitions to our diversified portfolio of assets, focusing on the most experienced developers.
For further information, please visit our website at www.carbonneutralltd.com
ON BEHALF OF CARBON NEUTRAL ROYALTY LTD.
(signed) "Brett Heath"
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of United States and Canadian regulations. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to expected scope of the Investment Agreement and the projects that it covers; Worldview's plans to establish new foundations in other countries and the expected timing thereof; Worldview's plans to increase the areas for restoration and conservation and the expected timing thereof; the expected production of verified carbon units to CNR's account over the life of the projects; the expected productivity and cost of Blue Carbon restoration projects; the future production and cost of verified carbon units; the future receipt of verified carbon units to CNR's account over the life of the projects subject to the Investment Agreement; CNR's future access to carbon streaming interests on Worldview projects; CNR's future entitlement to verified carbon credits under the Investment Agreement and the amounts and timing thereof; and the use of proceeds from the sale of carbon credits, Forward-looking statements and information are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that, while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, and contingencies..
Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of CNR to control or predict, that may cause CNR's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, including but not limited to: the risk that the Investment Agreement may not cover its intended geographic scope; risks associated with the impact of general business and economic conditions; the risk that the Company's carbon stream and carbon credits may not be recognized by applicable government authorities, the risks of carbon credits being traded an emerging marketplace, including risks related to international operations, government and environmental regulation, delays in carbon credit production from the projects on which the Company holds carbon credit interests, actual results of the projects wherein CNR holds carbon credit interests, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans are refined; problems related to the ability to market carbon credits, including price fluctuations, interest and exchange rate fluctuations; interpretation by government entities of tax laws or the implementation of new tax laws; regulatory, political or economic developments in any of the countries where properties in which CNR holds a carbon revenue streams or other interest in carbon credits are located or through which they are held; risks related to the operators of the properties in which CNR holds a royalty or carbon stream or other carbon credit interest, including changes in the ownership and control of such operators; risks related to global pandemics, including the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) global health pandemic, and the spread of other viruses or pathogens; influence of macroeconomic developments; business opportunities that become available to, or are pursued by CNR; reduced access to debt and equity capital; litigation; title, permit or license disputes related to interests on any of the properties in which CNR holds a royalty, stream or other carbon credit interest;; competition; future sales or issuances of debt or equity securities; use of proceeds; enforcement of civil judgments; and risks relating to CNR potentially being a passive foreign investment company within the meaning of U.S. federal tax laws; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in company documentation. CNR undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.
SOURCE Carbon Neutral Royalty Ltd.
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