In this strategic episode of Ground Truth, Eden: People+Planet CEO Bryan Adkins and host Glen Prior unpack the complexities of carbon markets and reveal how vertically integrated nature-based solutions deliver superior returns across multiple bottom lines while avoiding the inefficiencies that plague traditional approaches.

01:00-05:00 | Carbon Market Fundamentals for Decision-Makers

• The critical difference between voluntary and compliance carbon markets


• How the Paris Agreement (Article 6) is reshaping regulatory frameworks


• Why carbon markets have evolved over two decades but remain imperfect


• The strategic advantage of entering markets now versus waiting for perfect systems

05:00-11:00 | The Triple-Bottom-Line Business Case for Nature

• Why nature-based solutions provide superior returns versus single-variable alternatives


• How biodiversity benefits translate to agricultural system stability


• The overlooked community resilience factor in long-term project success


• Why direct air capture creates singular returns while nature delivers multiple value streams

11:00-18:30 | Overcoming Capital Deployment Inefficiencies

• The hidden cost of multi-layered funding mechanisms in international development


• How consultants and subconsultants diminish capital effectiveness


• Why Eden’s vertical integration model ensures maximum on-the-ground impact


• The competitive advantage of direct relationships between investors and implementers

18:30-23:00 | Strategic Risk Management Through Systems Thinking

• Reframing “uncertainty” versus “risk” in nature-based investments


• How ecosystem investment de-risks supply chains for commodities like coffee and tea


• The long-term stability advantage of landscape-scale versus fragmented approaches


• The business imperative for systems thinking in environmental strategy

23:00-26:00 | Practical Guidance for Corporate Leaders and Investors

• Why ESG officers should emphasize de-risking rather than carbon accounting


• How green capital funds can structure investments for long-term returns


• The strategic value of landscape-scale thinking versus one-dimensional metrics


• Multi-decade investment approaches that incorporate natural capital accounting

Recommended Resources for Professionals

Eden: People+Planet Resources

• Eden: People+Planet Website – Official website for more information on landscape restoration approach


• Ground Truth Podcast – Full episode archive and additional resources

Strategic Frameworks

• Natural Capital Protocol – Framework for identifying, measuring and valuing impacts and dependencies on natural capital


• TNFD Framework – Emerging disclosure standards for nature-related financial risks

Implementation Resources

• Restore the Earth’s EcoMetrics Model – Methodology for measuring the social, environmental and economic ROI of landscape-scale restoration


• Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard – Leading certification standard for carbon credits in voluntary markets

Industry Reports

• Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets Final Report – Comprehensive blueprint for scaling voluntary carbon markets


• McKinsey: A blueprint for scaling voluntary carbon markets – Strategic analysis of market growth opportunities


• World Economic Forum: Natural Climate Solutions for Corporations – Guide for corporate engagement with nature-based solutions