VOLUNTARY-CARBON-MARKET
Voluntary Carbon Market ~$2B market voluntary offsets.
Définition
Voluntary Carbon Market structure : (1) Project Developers : implement carbon reduction/removal projects, issue carbon credits (1 credit = 1 tCO2e reduced/removed/avoided). (2) Standards bodies : Verra VCS (Verified Carbon Standard, largest, ~70% market), Gold Standard (Switzerland, focus high-quality co-benefits), American Carbon Registry ACR + Climate Action Reserve CAR + Plan Vivo + others smaller. (3) Project types : (a) Avoidance projects : avoided emissions (REDD+ avoided deforestation, renewable energy displacing fossil grids, methane capture landfills/livestock), (b) Removal projects : carbon removed atmosphere (afforestation + reforestation, soil carbon agriculture, bioenergy with carbon capture BECCS, direct air capture + storage DACCS, ocean alkalinity enhancement). (4) Verification + Issuance : project developers register project with standard, methodology applied, monitoring + reporting + verification (MRV) by accredited Validation/Verification Bodies (VVB), standard issues credits. (5) Trading : credits sold via brokers + retailers + carbon credit exchanges (Climate Impact X, Carbon Trade Exchange, Xpansiv CBL, etc.). (6) Retirement : buyers retire credits in registry (cannot be re-sold) to claim offset. Integrity concerns 2023-2024 : Guardian + Die Zeit investigations questioned REDD+ Verra credits quality, ICVCM Integrity Council Voluntary Carbon Market formed 2022 publish Core Carbon Principles CCP standardize quality. ~$2B market 2023.
Origine
Voluntary Carbon Market origines 1990s Kyoto Protocol CDM Clean Development Mechanism inspired ; modern VCM ~2005+ post-Kyoto ratification ; Verra fondee 2005 ; ~$2B market 2023.
Exemple en contexte
Microsoft Corporation commits Carbon Negative 2030 : besides emissions reductions Scope 1+2+3, purchase voluntary carbon removals high-quality (vs cheap avoidance credits typically) : ~5M tCO2e removals 2024 (DAC Direct Air Capture Carbon Engineering + Climeworks, soil carbon Indigo Ag, bio-oil sequestration Charm Industrial, etc.), ~$50M+ annual budget removals signal market.
Termes liés
- Article 6 Paris — compliance international carbon trading.