Commodity Market Transformation Initiative
Global commodity markets are pivotal to the energy transition. Yet, climate performance remains largely invisible, untrusted, and unrewarded. The lack of robust supply-chain emissions data, credible standards for emissions claims, and clear market value for emissions performance are key barriers to climate differentiation. This lack of visibility weakens buyers’ ability to factor product-level emissions into purchase decisions, disincentivizes producers to decarbonize, and slows the flow of capital needed to drive real-world change.
RMI’s CMTI is working to change this. By enhancing transparency, building credible market systems, and aligning incentives, CMTI aims to make climate performance a meaningful market signal. The ultimate goal is to enable global markets to recognize, trust, and value low-emissions production of commodities and products, accelerating decarbonization on a global scale.
Through the CMTI, RMI is helping build the market systems needed to make that shift possible.
How CMTI Works
CMTI is addressing market challenges by focusing on the market foundations required for transformation. Together, these pillars create the conditions for durable market transformation:
Market transparency
CMTI advances robust carbon accounting methodologies and emissions visibility so climate performance can be measured and compared. This includes improving data quality, advancing interoperability, and identifying emissions hotspots and decarbonization opportunities across value chains.
Read: Accounting for impact Read: Pennsylvania: The Keystone State for an Emissions-Differentiated Gas Market Read: Measuring Methane: State Actions to Reduce Pollution and Create a Market
Market trust
CMTI supports the development and testing of credible market architecture and enforceable rules – such as chain of custody models, carbon accounting infrastructure, and ecosystem engagement – and works to align new approaches with existing commodity, policy, and emissions frameworks.
Read the Steel Book and Claim Framework Read the sectoral carbon accounting guidance pilots Read the technology ecosystem briefing
Market transformation
CMTI helps translate transparency and credibility into action. By working with buyers, suppliers, key market stakeholders, and policymakers, CMTI supports demand signals, procurement strategies, and policy alignment that reward low-emissions performance and unlock investment.
Report | Catalytic Procurement Report Guidance | Accelerating Supply Chain Decarbonization Guidance | Corporate Low-Carbon Procurement Read our work on EU methane regulations Read our Low-Methane Leakage Gas Market NavigatorCMTI’s Focus Areas
CMTI works across high-emitting sectors — including oil and gas, chemicals, metals, and other energy transition materials — where climate differentiation can drive real emissions reductions.
Through deep collaboration with suppliers, buyers, governments, and market actors, CMTI designs practical, credible, and scalable market solutions tailored to regional contexts while applicable across global commodity systems.
Our work by Sector
We are developing sector-specific approaches to decarbonize global supply chains.
Natural Gas
In partnership with MiQ, we created Methane Performance Standard which differentiates lower-emissions natural gas by tracking methane emissions across the entire value chain. With a global warming potential over 80x more powerful than CO2 over a 20-year timeframe, methane must be addressed now.
Learn More
Aluminum
Decarbonizing the aluminum sector relies heavily on low-carbon primary production technology, electricity decarbonization, and end-of-life scrap collection and sorting.
Our aluminum emissions reporting guidance provide key metrics to accelerate decarbonization.
Learn More
Plastic
The transformation of crude oil and natural gas into intermediate chemical products is a highly emissions-intensive segment of the oil and gas value chain.
Through plastic molding and extrusion guidance, we aim to improve emission measurement and support the sector's decarbonization.
Learn More
Steel
Steel production accounts for roughly 7% of global energy emissions and is on track to consume 25 percent of the total remaining 1.5°C carbon budget by 2050.
Our steel emissions reporting guidance, and Purchasing Platform enable actors to decarbonize this critical sector.
Learn More
Aviation
Aviation accounts for ~2% of global CO2 emissions annually.
We are developing aviation fuel accounting guidance in collaboration with the World Economic Forum's Clean Skies for Tomorrow Sustainable Aviation Fuel Certificate (SAFc) framework to decarbonize the way we travel.
Learn MoreLatest Publications
Venezuela’s oil future is murky. But its production emissions are all too clear.
Venezuela's oil is already at a disadvantage among buyers of lower-emissions product.
Catalytic Procurement: How Corporations Can Lead the Green Commodity Transition
RMI’s Catalytic Procurement report shows how corporate procurement can catalyze low-emission markets through innovative market mechanisms.
Plastics Extrusion and Molding Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Guidance
RMI’s Plastics Extrusion and Molding Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Guidance