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The United States has announced new principles for high-integrity Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCMs), marking a significant step forward in the effort to address climate change. These principles aim to ensure that VCMs contribute effectively to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable practices. 🔑 Key Points: 1. Emissions Reduction: The goal is to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. 2. Economic Opportunities: These investments are designed to create economic opportunities across a wide range of businesses, from rural farms to tech companies and underserved entrepreneurs. 3. High-Integrity Standards: The new principles set robust standards to ensure that carbon credits represent real, additional, and lasting emissions reductions. This includes avoiding environmental and social harm and supporting co-benefits. 4. Corporate Accountability: Encouraging companies to prioritize emissions reductions within their own operations and avoid practices that could undermine the credibility of their climate claims. Supported by various U.S. government initiatives, these principles aim to enhance the transparency, reliability, and effectiveness of VCMs. This includes efforts to improve market functioning, ensure fair and equitable treatment of all participants, and advance environmental justice. By adhering to these high standards, VCMs can provide steady revenue streams for a variety of decarbonization projects, support economic development, and help preserve natural ecosystems. These steps are crucial for achieving meaningful progress towards the United States' and global climate goals. Learn more about this initiative Learn more about this initiative https://lnkd.in/e2w2U4-y #ClimateAction #Sustainability #VoluntaryCarbonMarkets #GreenEconomy #NetZero2050 #EnvironmentalJustice #CleanEnergy #Innovation #USA

US Carbon Market Principles: A Critical Take 🔍 The new principles for voluntary carbon markets by the US Administration have been well received. But beyond the applause, what do these guidelines really mean? Where do they shine and where do they fall short? Here’s my take: Why it matters: 💠 The largest corporate buyers are in the US. 💠 Fortune 500: $46.4 trillion market cap, with 65% US-based—significant clout for driving climate action. Where it exceeds expectations: ✅ "High-Integrity" Markets: Strong focus on transparency and accountability to combat greenwashing. ✅ Comprehensive Approach: Emphasizes the need for both avoidance and removals, highlighting the urgency of scaling nature-based solutions and fostering tech innovation. ✅ Robust Verification: Calls for stringent verification to ensure credits represent real emission reductions. ✅ Inclusivity and Equity: Involves local communities and indigenous groups, ensuring benefits for those most affected by climate change. Where it falls short: ❔ Economic Impact: Optimistic about job creation and innovation but lacks specifics on implementation. ❔ Detail Deficiency: Strong on principles, but needs more on enforcement and monitoring. ❔ Global Leadership: Positions the US as a leader but lacks emphasis on international collaboration and setting global standards. Overall, the guidelines are strong on integrity and inclusivity but need more detail on enforcement and global cooperation. I’ll be posting more on where we go from here tomorrow. 👉🏼 Follow my profile for part 2 and more posts on carbon markets and natural capital investing. Read the full fact sheet from The White House below: https://lnkd.in/ghKfRV4A #voluntarycarbonmarkets #naturalcapital #carboncredits

🌍 Understanding Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) and Their Future Potential As climate change continues to be a critical global issue, the role of carbon markets in mitigating its impact becomes increasingly important. JP Morgan's latest report, "Carbon Counts 4.0," provides valuable insights into the state and future of carbon pricing mechanisms, including Voluntary Carbon Markets. ❓What is VCM❓ VCM is a decentralized market where private entities voluntarily buy and sell carbon credits, known as Voluntary Emissions Reductions (VERs). These credits represent the reduction or removal of one metric ton of CO2 from the atmosphere. The market is governed by various private standards to ensure the environmental and social integrity of these credits. Five leading standards dominate the market: 1. Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard 2. Gold Standard 3. Clean Development Mechanism 4. American Carbon Registry 5. Climate Action Reserve Each standard adheres to common integrity principles like Additionality, Permanence, Robust Quantification, No Leakage, and No Double Counting. ❓How Does VCM Work❓ VCMs operate outside of government regulation, allowing companies and individuals to invest in carbon offset projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These projects can range from reforestation efforts to renewable energy initiatives. Companies purchase these credits to offset their own emissions, often as part of their sustainability goals. Despite facing a recent confidence crisis due to oversupply and negative media reports, VCMs are showing signs of hope. Efforts to streamline principles governing both the supply and demand sides are underway, and political support from the USA has provided a boost to these markets. ❓The Role of SBTi❓ A key potential catalyst for demand in VCMs is the decision by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to include VERs in their Scope 3 targets. This inclusion could significantly enhance the credibility and demand for VERs, driving more companies to participate in VCMs. ❓Looking Ahead❓ JP Morgan's report highlights that while challenges remain, VCMs have the potential to play a crucial role in achieving global Net-Zero targets. The ongoing developments and support for high-quality carbon offset projects offer a promising outlook for the future of VCMs. 🌿💼 #Sustainability #CarbonMarkets #ClimateAction #NetZero #ESG https://lnkd.in/daCSWYKz

🌿 Exciting News for Sustainability! 🌿 The Biden-Harris Administration has just announced a groundbreaking initiative to foster high-integrity voluntary carbon markets! These new principles aim to enhance transparency, credibility, and effectiveness in carbon trading, ensuring that voluntary carbon markets truly contribute to our global climate goals. Key highlights of the announcement: 1. Integrity First: Establishing clear standards for carbon credits to ensure genuine emission reductions. 2. Transparency and Accountability: Improving reporting and verification processes to build trust and confidence. 3. Inclusive Participation: Encouraging diverse stakeholders, including businesses, NGOs, and indigenous communities, to engage in carbon markets. 4. Innovation and Scalability: Promoting technological advancements and scalable solutions to maximize the impact. This initiative is a significant step towards achieving net-zero emissions and addressing the climate crisis with urgency and integrity. As businesses and professionals, we have a crucial role to play in supporting and implementing these principles within our organizations and projects. https://lnkd.in/dydXD4zt Good news Bob Gravestijn! #Sustainability #ClimateAction #CarbonMarkets #BidenHarrisAdministration #NetZero #EnvironmentalStewardship #CorporateResponsibility #GreenFuture

New U.S. Policy Unveiled to Boost Confidence and Investment in Carbon Markets! Big news for sustainability advocates! The U.S. government has just introduced new policy aimed at ensuring integrity and enhancing confidence in the voluntary carbon market. This initiative promises to bolster environmental accountability, drive meaningful climate action, and unlock the potential for private markets to reduce global emissions. Here are some key facts about the new U.S. policy: ✅ Enhanced Verification Standards: The policy introduces stricter verification processes to ensure that carbon reductions are accurately measured. ✅ Increased Transparency: New regulations will require detailed public reporting of carbon credit projects, making it easier for stakeholders to verify the impact of their investments. ✅ Support for High-Quality Offsets: The policy aims to promote carbon credits that provide real, additional, and permanent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. 🔗 Read the full story on Reuters: https://lnkd.in/gArPsdd3 This new policy aligns strongly with the principles of the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market or ICVCM, the global leader in carbon credit project governance. Quality has always been paramount at Terrapass. That's why ICVCM is already a core part of our quality standards. #ClimateAction #Sustainability #CarbonOffsets #GreenInitiative #EnvironmentalPolicy

Biden Administration Unveils Principles for Robust Voluntary Carbon Markets Key Points: The Biden-Harris Administration has released new principles to guide the development of high-integrity voluntary carbon markets (VCMs). These principles aim to ensure VCMs drive real, verifiable emissions reductions and avoid greenwashing. Key principles include ensuring credit integrity, prioritizing emissions reductions, enhancing transparency, and supporting environmental justice. The Administration is taking a whole-of-government approach, with various agencies contributing to VCM development and oversight. Context and Background: Voluntary carbon markets have gained traction as companies seek to offset emissions and meet sustainability goals. However, concerns have been raised about the credibility of some carbon credits and the need for robust standards. The Biden Administration recognizes the potential of high-quality VCMs to channel private capital towards decarbonization efforts while acknowledging the need for guardrails to ensure their integrity. In my view, the Administration's principles represent a crucial step in restoring confidence in voluntary carbon markets. By establishing clear guidelines and a coordinated approach, these principles can help unlock private capital for credible decarbonization projects while addressing greenwashing concerns. However, their success will depend on effective implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement based on stakeholder feedback. What are your thoughts on the Biden Administration's principles for voluntary carbon markets? How can we ensure these principles are effectively implemented and enforced? Share your insights below, and let's continue the discussion on building robust and impactful carbon markets. Like and share if you found this valuable! #VoluntaryCarbonMarkets #ClimateAction #NetZero #CarbonCredits #Sustainability #BidenAdministration https://lnkd.in/drXGPNsW

📩 Please share this article far and wide, we want to spread awareness of the compelling evidence in support of voluntary carbon market. Following recent SBTi debates, Lucy Almond has done us all a favour. She has collected three insightful reports to communicate the huge potential of high-quality carbon credits. Findings from Ecosystem Marketplace, We Mean Business Coalition, IETA, AlliedOffsets and MSCI Carbon Markets are all highlighted in the article. Some of our favourites include: 🔹 Working with IETA for their new guideslines for using high integrity carbon credits, AlliedOffsets found that 81 percent of companies have not yet set climate targets. We should focus critique on these laggards, not the bold 19 percent already taking action. 🔹 Contrary to popular critique, We Mean Business reported that 71 percent of companies said the voluntary carbon market enables them to decarbonise more, not less. 🔹 This is supported by the findings from Ecosystem Marketplace. It found that companies buying carbon credits via the voluntary carbon market are 1.8 times more likely to be decarbonising year-on-year than their non-credit purchasing peers. 🔹What’s more, 51 percent of companies reported to We Mean Business that climate finance is “use it or lose it” for them, eg. any funds not spent on carbon credits will be reabsorbed into the company. Not only are these points evidence of the strong climate impacts already made, but serve as encouragement to continue growing and bettering the market. It seems we really are shifting towards a VCM 2.0. Read the full article here >> https://lnkd.in/gAtVy8Kw #CarbonCredits #VoluntaryCarbonMarket #NatureBasedSolutions

🌍 The US government’s new Voluntary Carbon Markets Joint Policy Statement and Principles highlights VCMs as a powerful tool to mobilize substantial private capital for global climate change mitigation projects. A huge signal when climate commitments are far from ensured on the policy side. And a strong support for organizations doing so already. Key principles include: · Credible Standards: Carbon credits must meet rigorous decarbonization standards. · Avoid Harm: Projects should avoid environmental and social harm, promoting co-benefits. · Prioritize Reductions: Companies should focus on measurable emissions reductions within their value chains. · Transparency: Public disclosure of purchased and retired credits is essential. · Accurate Claims: Claims must reflect the true climate impact of credits. · Market Integrity: Participants should support efforts to enhance market integrity. · Efficiency: Policies should facilitate efficient market participation and reduce transaction costs. Read CEEZER's analysis by Natalie Steinemann, Lucas van Doorn, and Dr. Carla Woydt here: https://lnkd.in/e8SNtCjP #ClimateAction #CarbonMarkets #Sustainability #EnvironmentalJustice #NetZero

Ever wonder about the world of climate policy, carbon credits, and corporate sustainability, and their vital role in mitigating environmental degradation and fostering a sustainable future? THREAD ... Climate Policy Climate policy refers to a set of regulations, strategies, and measures formulated by governments and international bodies to address the adverse effects of climate change. It aims to limit greenhouse gas emissions, promote renewable energy, and foster sustainable practices across industries. ... Carbon Credits and Markets Carbon credits, a cornerstone of climate policy, are tradable permits representing a reduction of one ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions. Carbon markets enable the buying and selling of these credits, creating economic incentives for industries to lower emissions. This market mechanism stimulates emission reductions efficiently and drives the transition to low-carbon practices. ... Offset Projects Offset projects are initiatives that facilitate emission reductions or removals to compensate for unavoidable emissions elsewhere. They encompass activities like reforestation, renewable energy projects, and methane capture. Offset projects contribute to achieving emission reduction targets while promoting sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. ... Climate Finance Climate finance involves financial resources directed towards climate-related projects and initiatives. It aims to support both adaptation to climate impacts and mitigation efforts. Public and private sector funding, international funds, and innovative financial mechanisms contribute to climate finance, aiding the transition to a low-carbon economy. ... Corporate Sustainability Corporate sustainability entails integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into business strategies. It involves adopting practices that reduce environmental impacts, improve social well-being, and enhance long-term value. Businesses increasingly embrace sustainability to align with climate goals, engage stakeholders, and ensure resilience. ... Carbon markets incentivize emission reductions, encouraging corporate sustainability efforts. Emission reductions, in turn, yield carbon credits that can be traded, further promoting sustainable practices and financing offset projects. #ESG #ClimatePolicy #CarbonCredits #CarbonMarkets #OffsetProjects #ClimateFinance #CorporateSustainability #EmissionReduction #SustainableDevelopment #KenyanGeologist #FYP #RenewableEnergy

A key statement from the US supporting high integrity #CarbonMarkets. Carbonplace provides key Market Infrastructure, reducing barriers to entry and promoting the credible us of #CarbonCredits. Carbonplace improves #VCM market functionality through Access, Trust and Transparency.   The Carbonplace platform enables "global interoperability of relevant standards, market infrastructure, and reporting; supporting robust and equitable participation in these markets."