Nairobi, May 24 -- Kenya is positioning itself as a continental leader in climate action, from renewable energy to mangrove restoration and community-led conservation. Yet one part still leaves many people confused: carbon markets.

Not a week goes by without someone asking, "What are carbon credits, and how do they work?"

At its simplest level, a carbon credit represents a reduction or removal of greenhouse gas emissions. Companies or countries that emit carbon can buy credits generated through forest conservation, mangrove restoration, regenerative agriculture, or renewable energy. In theory, carbon markets create incentives to protect nature while reducing emissions.

In Kenya, this is no longer abstract. From the northern rangelands ...