Great Bear Carbon CEO Joseph Pallant Leads 3 Million-Hectare Indigenous Carbon Credit Project in British Columbia
Joseph Pallant, CEO of Great Bear Carbon Credit Corporation sat down with ESG News CEO & Editor-in-Chief Matt Bird, to explore one of the world’s most significant Indigenous- led conservation finance initiatives — a carbon project spanning over 3 million hectares of First Nations territory along the coast of British Columbia.
Great Bear Carbon is a 100% Indigenous-owned organization, representing seven First Nations whose lands form one of the globe’s most ecologically rich and culturally important forest ecosystems. For more than 15 years, these Nations have been generating carbon offsets under the BC Carbon Standard, preserving old-growth forests and coastal landscapes that play a critical role in both biodiversity and global climate stability.
A New Phase: Moving From Voluntary to Compliance Markets
Pallant shared that the project has now reached a significant milestone. After more than a decade selling offsets into the voluntary carbon market, Great Bear Carbon has transitioned into British Columbia’s Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS) — entering the compliance market for the first time.
This shift marks a major development for the Nations involved. Compliance markets typically yield higher and more stable prices for credits, providing stronger economic returns for conservation, stewardship, and long-term land protection.
“Our prices have gone up substantially,” Joseph Pallant explained. “This allows us to do a better job paying the Nations for their protection and stewardship of this landscape.”
A Landscape of Global Significance
The project safeguards approximately three million hectares of forests, coastal ecosystems, and wildlife habitats — an area larger than Belgium. These lands form the heart of British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest, one of the last intact temperate rainforests in the world.
Pallant emphasized that this project is not only an environmental asset but also a social and cultural one, reflecting deep-rooted Indigenous leadership in climate action.
“It’s one of the best projects in the world — the most compelling landscapes, the most compelling communities,” he said.
Two Decades of Carbon Market Expertise
With more than 21 years of experience working in global carbon markets, Pallant brings a seasoned perspective to Great Bear Carbon’s next chapter.
“I’m grateful to bring my experience to such a unique and powerful project and hit the ground running.”
He also highlighted the importance of integrity, long-term governance, and ensuring that Indigenous communities are the primary beneficiaries of carbon finance tied to their lands.
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Innovation, Climate Finance & Collaboration
During the conversation, Pallant praised the innovation taking place across the climate finance sector, including emerging exchange products and new transparency tools that aim to bring higher-quality, verifiable carbon projects to market.
About Joseph Pallant
Joseph Pallant is the CEO of Great Bear Carbon, a 100% Indigenous-owned carbon credit corporation representing seven First Nations across British Columbia. Under his leadership, the organization manages one of the world’s largest nature-based offset initiatives—protecting over 3 million hectares of forested territory and generating credits under BC’s carbon standard. With more than 15 years of experience in voluntary and compliance carbon markets, Pallant has guided Great Bear Carbon through its transition into the output-based pricing system, significantly increasing the value of its credits and strengthening economic sovereignty for participating Indigenous communities. His work is widely recognized for advancing high-integrity carbon projects, Indigenous-led climate solutions, and long-term environmental stewardship.
