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GMA Code of Ethics

Effective Date: January 1, 2026

Applies to: All GMA employees, board members, volunteers, contractors, and partners acting on behalf of GMA.

Purpose & Commitment
The Center for Green Market Activation™ (GMA) is a U.S.-based, globally focused nonprofit catalyzing adoption of low- and zero-carbon fuels, materials, and services. Our mission is to accelerate decarbonization in the hardest-to-abate sectors—aviation, maritime, heavy-duty trucking, cement and concrete, and chemicals—through innovative procurement approaches and collaborative alliances.

This Code of Ethics ensures that GMA operates with integrity, transparency, and accountability while engaging with partners, global companies, stakeholders, and partners to advance climate solutions.

GMA’s Ethics Principles

    • Integrity: We act honestly and uphold the highest ethical standards in all interactions.
    • Transparency: We communicate openly about our programs, partnerships, and funding.
    • Accountability: We take ownership of our work, decisions, and behaviors and take corrective action when needed
    • Collaboration: We foster constructive partnerships without compromising independence.
    • Respect: We treat all individuals and communities with dignity and fairness.

Compliance & Global Standards
GMA complies with all applicable laws and aligns with international norms, including:

  • UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
  • UN Global Compact Principles
  • Anti-corruption and data protection regulations

Human Rights & Safeguarding

  • We uphold human rights and prohibit discrimination, harassment, or exploitation.
  • We provide accessible channels for grievances and ensure non-retaliation for good-faith reporting.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

  • We promote diversity in staffing, governance, and partnerships.
  • We maintain a workplace free from harassment.
  • We strive for accessibility and cultural sensitivity in global operations.

Anti-Corruption & Gifts

  • Bribery, kickbacks, and facilitation payments are strictly prohibited.
  • Direct gifts or hospitality to staff members must be modest, culturally appropriate, and never intended to influence decisions. Any gifts or hospitality valued at $200 or more, must be promptly reported to GMA’s ethics officer.
  • Gifts of any kind cannot be tied to procurement, contracts, or specific organizational advantages.
  • We will decline gifts that pose undue financial, legal, or reputational risks.

Conflicts of Interest

  • Employees and board members must disclose any actual or perceived conflicts, including financial interests or relationships with partner companies, on an annual basis via GMA’s Conflict of Interest Statement and Disclosure Form.
  • Conflicted individuals must recuse themselves from related decisions.

Ethical Partnerships

  • We partner only with organizations committed to climate action, ethical practices, and GMA’s mission.
  • Partnerships must not compromise GMA’s independence or scientific integrity.

Environmental Responsibility

  • We minimize our own environmental footprint through sustainable operations.
  • We work with buyer alliance members and other partners to encourage high-impact procurement strategies that drive low-carbon technology adoption in hard to abate sectors.
  • All GMA initiatives prioritize measurable decarbonization impact.

Data Privacy & Confidentiality

  • We safeguard sensitive business and personal data in compliance with global privacy laws.
  • We maintain confidentiality of proprietary partner information while promoting transparency in aggregate reporting.

Financial Integrity

  • We maintain accurate financial records and comply with nonprofit reporting standards.
  • Funds are used solely for mission-aligned purposes.
  • Fraud, waste, or misuse of resources will result in corrective action.

Reporting & Accountability

  • Concerns can be reported via email to GMA’s ethics officer, Ellen Palmer, ellen.palmer(at)gmacenter.org.
  • Retaliation against whistleblowers is prohibited and detailed in length in GMA’s Whistleblower Policy.
  • Violations may result in disciplinary action or termination of partnerships.

Acknowledgment
All staff, board members, and partners must review and sign this Code, confirming their commitment to uphold GMA’s values and ethical standards.