Explores the potential for financing small-scale high-benefit sustainable development projects through the voluntary and retail sector of the carbon market.

The world carbon market is growing at a staggering rate with trading volumes into the tens of billions of dollars and approaching a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. The growth prospects for business are enormous and the potential positive impacts for greenhouse gas emission reductions, climate policy options, renewable energy investment, development projects and efficiency gains are increasingly apparent.A key part of the market in greenhouse gas emissions is the rapidly growing voluntary carbon market driven by companies, organizations and individuals committed to efficiency, profitability and rapid action on climate change. HSBC, Volvo, Avis, Ricoh and American Express are but a few of the many companies now offsetting their greenhouse gas emissions and becoming 'carbon neutral', fuelling an international voluntary carbon market that is growing exponentially. This groundbreaking business book, written in a fast-paced journalistic style, draws together all the key information on international voluntary carbon markets with commentary from leading practitioners and business people. The voluntary market is complex, fragmented and multi-layered, but it is beginning to consolidate around a few guiding practices and business models from which conclusions can be drawn about market direction and opportunities.The book covers all aspects of voluntary carbon markets around the world: what they are, how they work and, most critically, their business potential to help slow climate change. It is the indispensable guide for anyone seeking to understand voluntary carbon markets and capitalize on the opportunities they present for economic and environmental benefit. If you want to be ahead of the curve for the next big thing, you need this book.

Winner of the Choice Outstanding Academic Titles of 2010 award. This book is a comprehensive and accessible guide to understanding the opportunities offered by regulated and voluntary carbon markets for tackling climate change. Coverage includes: - An overview of the problem of climate change, with a concise review of the most recent scientific evidence in different fields - A highly accessible introduction to the economic theory and different constitutive elements of a carbon allowances market - Explanation of the Kyoto Protocol and its flexibility mechanisms - Explanation of how the EU Emissions Trading Scheme works in practice - Ongoing developments in regulated carbon markets in the US - Up-to-the-minute coverage of regulated carbon markets in Australia - Developments in New Zealand and Japan - Carbon offsetting and voluntary carbon markets. Combining theoretical aspects with practical applications, this book is for business leaders, financiers, carbon traders, lawyers, bankers, researchers, policy makers and anyone interested in market mechanisms to mitigate climate change. The carbon emissions resulting from the production of this book have been calculated, reduced and offset to render the bookcarbon neutral. Published with CO2 Neutral

"Carbon Credits: From Origin to Present and Future Applications" is an in-depth exploration of the carbon credit market, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of the evolution, mechanisms, and future potential of carbon credits as a powerful tool for combating climate change. As the global focus on sustainability intensifies, this book unpacks how carbon credits, along with emerging technologies, are shaping the future of environmental responsibility and global emissions reduction. Authored by Ron Legarski, President and CEO of SolveForce and a seasoned expert in telecommunications and IT infrastructure, this book bridges the gap between technology and climate action. It explains how tools like blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are revolutionizing the transparency, efficiency, and scalability of carbon markets. From the historical foundations of carbon credits to the intricacies of cap-and-trade systems and the latest developments in decentralized carbon markets, this book delves into the policies, technological advancements, and real-world applications driving the carbon credit industry. Readers will also gain insights into the critical role of telecommunications and IT systems in optimizing energy efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint of businesses and industries. Featuring detailed case studies of successful carbon credit initiatives and a breakdown of key carbon credit policies in major economies, this book provides practical guidance for business leaders, policymakers, and sustainability advocates seeking to navigate the complexities of the carbon market. Whether you are a business professional looking to understand carbon offsets, a policymaker working on climate policy, or a technologist interested in how AI and blockchain are reshaping the future of carbon trading, "Carbon Credits: From Origin to Present and Future Applications" offers essential insights into the role of carbon credits in achieving global climate goals. Discover how technology, policy, and market-based solutions can work together to drive sustainability, reduce emissions, and build a more resilient future.

The voluntary carbon offset market in the United States has flourished even in the absence of nationwide limits on green house gas emissions. The market will grow exponentially with the advent of cap-and-trade regulation. Whether fueled by altruism or by the desire to appear altruistic, individuals and corporate actors are willing to spend substantial amounts of money investing in projects designed to reduce green house gas emissions and render various activities carbon neutral. Left to private market regulation, a myriad of certification programs and protocols defining what constitutes a viable carbon offset has arisen. This proliferation of standards is causing confusion in the market place and raises questions about the integrity of offsets, both in terms of the current voluntary offset market and future domestic and international markets. This article examines the need for standardized certification of carbon offsets, exploring lessons learned from the evolution of the organics market which underwent a similar transition from a fragmented, multi-standard approach to a uniform standard of certification. Creating an offset certification program that includes market stakeholders in the standards forming and implementing process - with appropriate government oversight - addresses issues of market integrity while creating a system with the potential to preserve flexibility and innovation in the offset market.