Partnering with Howden to advance climate resilience through carbon markets
Abatable partnered with Howden to create a robust carbon procurement programme, combining emissions compensation and contribution approaches to deliver a risk-mitigated and resilient carbon credit portfolio.
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Overview
Howden
Insurance
End-to-end carbon procurement: plan, source, evaluate, purchase, manage, and report
Combined emissions compensation with contribution-led climate finance
1, 2, and 3
Challenge
Howden is a leading global insurance intermediary group that provides insurance, reinsurance, and underwriting services and solutions to clients ranging from private individuals to the largest multinational companies.
Howden's 2025 carbon credit portfolio, created in partnership with Abatable, integrates frontier carbon removal technologies and high-impact nature-based solutions, establishing a new standard for corporate climate leadership within the insurance industry.
Abatable worked with Howden throughout the entire procurement process to design and deliver a resilient portfolio that combines emissions compensation and contribution approaches to achieve positive climate impact.
key results
Emissions scopes addressed through a mix of compensation and contribution approaches
Next-generation carbon removal projects supported
Flagship nature-based projects supported, protecting and regenerating forests and mangroves
Challenge
Howden is active in providing underwriting services for carbon markets, having launched the world's first voluntary carbon credit invalidation insurance in 2022.
Howden is also active in the carbon market as a buyer of carbon credits, addressing Scope 1 and 2 emissions while applying a contribution-led approach to Scope 3 through projects that deliver substantial co-benefits. As the company progresses towards its 2040 net-zero target across its buildings, transport, and purchased goods and services, it recognised that addressing residual emissions was not simply a compliance exercise. It was an opportunity to engage with carbon markets in a forward-thinking, credible, and values-aligned way.
Howden approached Abatable to help realise its 2025 emissions strategy and to design and build a carbon credit portfolio that reflected its long-term approach to risk, resilience, and climate leadership, while supporting the development of high-integrity climate solutions.
Solution
Abatable used its end-to-end procurement framework to help Howden plan, source, evaluate, purchase, manage, monitor, and report on a diversified carbon credit portfolio.
Plan its climate strategy across Scopes 1 to 3 in line with evolving market standards.
Source credits through Abatable's RFP platform, which provides access to over 4,000 carbon project developers and 13,500 unique projects.
Evaluate projects through Abatable's independent, tiered due diligence framework, enabling Howden to source high-quality credits.
Purchase credits through a streamlined contracting process, with Abatable acting as the sole counterparty for all supplier transactions, ensuring delivery security and minimising administrative complexity.
Manage, monitor, and report on impact through Abatable's real-time performance tracking, risk alerts, and customised reporting tools.
The portfolio delivers verified emission reductions and removals across four continents. Nearly half of the projects are next-generation carbon removal projects, positioning Howden among early corporate adopters of frontier climate technologies. These sit alongside community-driven natural climate solutions, spreading risk and creating impact across the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Results
- A balanced approach – Combining compensation and contribution: durable removals for Scopes 1 and 2, contribution-led credits for Scope 3.
- Diversified portfolio – A high-quality carbon credit portfolio sourced transparently from global developers, with fixed portfolio pricing to mitigate market volatility.
- Streamlined contracting – Procurement and contracting handled via the Abatable platform and experts, reducing risk and administrative overhead.
- Risk mitigation – Proactive risk monitoring and contractual buffers ensure credit supply.
- ESG alignment – Aligned with Howden's core ESG priorities: de-risking the energy transition, community empowerment, and responsible business practices.
- A replicable model – A pragmatic carbon procurement programme that can serve as a model for corporates of all sizes.
built on evidence
Our clients consistently achieve better pricing, better supply quality, and more confidence in every decision they make.
Cost savings from working with Abatable
Clients supported
Combined years of experience in environmental markets
Net promoter score from our partners
Designing for climate resilience
'We wanted to approach carbon procurement in a way that went beyond simply addressing emissions and instead reflected our longer-term thinking on climate risk and resilience. Partnering with Abatable enabled us to design and deliver a diversified portfolio that supports credible climate impact today while helping to scale the solutions needed for the future. It's a strong example of what can be achieved through close collaboration.'
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