Voluntary carbon markets are set to rise to a new record high in 2020 despite the COVID-19 crisis, according to Ecosystem Marketplace. In 2019 corporate carbon-neutral pledges boosted the transaction volume to a record of at least 104 million mt of CO2 equivalent in 2019. Voluntary carbon markets grew 6% last year, while nature-based offset projects saw prices rise 30%, …
Finance firms need to scale circular economy, says UK foundation
Financial services firms should scale the circular economy, said UK-based Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The Foundation, which is focused on the transition to a circular economy, also advised the firms to work with governments and corporations in seizing opportunities in what it thinks is a a crucial part of the solution to climate change. In its latest position paper, Financing the …
Europeans still see climate change as top threat amid COVID-19 crisis
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, many Europeans still saw climate change as the greatest threat to their countries, according to a Pew Research Center study, with women and the left more likely to be worried than their counterparts. Climate change surpassed or tied infectious disease as the most frequently mentioned “major threat” in eight of 14 countries polled by Pew, including …
What can retail businesses, markets and companies contribute to decarbonization efforts?
Businesses, financial institutions, and organisations have powerful roles in global climate action. They have the resources to support decarbonization projects such as offsetting. And, they can help reduce carbon emissions around the world. Reduction, Reuse and Offsets are three key parts of the solution, with importance in that order. “Many people misunderstand offsets as a way to avoid having to …
Global carbon offset demand to rise as climate policy expands
Fitch Ratings said recently that carbon offset demand worldwide will rise as climate policy expands to cover not just utilities but also heavy industry. “We are likely to see an expansion of offsets both in volume and price, even in the absence of a global carbon market,” said the ratings agency in a statement. Fitch said policy measures in the …
The Business Case for Carbon Offsetting
The elephant in the room, is it a good financial decision for a business to purchase carbon offset? This is a topic few people like to engage in as the belief goes; surely the fate of the planet is reason enough! The fact is, it isn’t. Short term agenda’s, goals and the perceived survival of the company (or even an …
What are the best carbon offsets?
This is a common question, and is best framed as what are the most ‘high-quality’ carbon offsets. There is no single ‘best’ but rather a tier of offsets that must meet strict criteria in order to be seen as high quality. How do you determine high quality offsets? The Carbon Offset guide by the GHG Management Institute and Stockholm Environment …
What are carbon offsets?
Carbon offsets are a misnomer in the sense that they are actually referring to the offsetting of greenhouse gas emissions, the most common of which is carbon dioxide. As such a carbon offset is used as a shorthand term. It’s important to therefore understand what greenhouse gases are and what that actually means. Explaining greenhouse gases The ‘greenhouse gases’ are …