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Policy Submissions
18 Dec 2020

Carbon Market Watch response to the Consultation of the Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets

Summary: The proposition of a Taskforce on scaling voluntary carbon markets represents an opportunity to encourage all parts of the carbon market value chain to boost their commitment towards the goals of the Paris Agreement.  However, Carbon Market Watch underlines that the Taskforce should prioritize the reduction or avoidance of absolute emissions, guaranteeing that only…
Briefings
15 Dec 2020

Above and Beyond Carbon Offsetting – Alternatives to Compensation for Climate Action and Sustainable Development

Executive summary Relying on carbon offsets to meet climate targets is risky and unsustainable. Carbon credits can have low environmental integrity, and they will become increasingly difficult to source as countries need to “keep” their reductions to meet domestic targets. When companies purchase a carbon credit generated in a country that also has a climate…
Briefings
15 Dec 2020

Results-Based Finance in the Paris Era – Considerations to Maximise Impact

This report by NewClimate Institute was commissioned by Carbon Market Watch Summary In order to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement, it is essential to rapidly move from a zero-sum offsetting approach towards rapid transitions to decarbonise all emitting sectors. Though originally developed for offsetting, using aspects of carbon market mechanisms to deliver results-based…
Briefings
24 Nov 2020

Carbon markets and agriculture – why offsetting is putting us on the wrong track

A joint briefing by Carbon Market Watch, Secours Catholique, CCFD – Terre Solidaire and Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy (IATP) Executive summary Climate mitigation projects in the agriculture sector, particularly those focused on storing carbon in soils, are increasingly being tied to carbon markets. But the impact of these initiatives is highly questionable. First,…
Policy Submissions
29 Oct 2020

Carbon Market Watch feedback to Gold Standard’s document “Operationalising and scaling post-2020 carbon markets”

Carbon Market Watch welcomes Gold Standard’s vision for the post-2020 voluntary market and supports the idea of developing a new type of claim which would not be used for compensation of greenhouse gas emissions. If carbon credits continue to be used as offsets/compensation, we also support the position that this should only be possible if…
Policy Submissions
21 Oct 2020

Carbon Market Watch response to Verra’s proposal for scaling voluntary carbon markets and avoiding double counting post-2020

Carbon Market Watch welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on Verra’s proposal. We echo Verra’s recognition that there is a need to differentiate between credits which do or do not meet all the requirements set (or to be set) under the Paris Agreement’s article 6 rules. However, we express concern that Verra’s proposed “labelling” approach…
Briefings
31 Jul 2020

Carbon markets 101 – the ultimate guide to global offsetting mechanisms

Introduction This briefing gives an overview of the current discussions under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement which establishes the foundation for market-based climate measures after 2020. It lays out key lessons from the Kyoto Protocol markets, highlights essential issues within the Article 6 negotiations, and provides recommendations on how to solve them. It concludes…
Briefings
2 Dec 2019

Empty targets? How to avoid trading of hot air under the Paris Agreement

Executive summary A very large number of carbon credits has been created through the three carbon markets of the Kyoto Protocol: the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Joint Implementation (JI) and International Emissions Trading (IET). It is unclear what will happen to these mechanisms in the future and whether these old credits will be used under…
Briefings
2 Dec 2019

How to keep hot air out of the Paris Agreement – technical proposal

This document is addressed to Article 6 negotiators and Heads of Delegations at COP25, and proposes a detailed and structured text to address the issues described in the briefing “Empty targets? How to avoid the trading of hot air under the Paris Agreement”. Key numbers from the briefing: ● The potential supply of available CERs…
Policy Submissions
14 Jun 2019

Carbon Market Watch’s briefing note for the June 2019 Bonn UNFCCC session

Dear respected colleague, Ahead of the Bonn Climate Change Conference 17-27 June 2019, Carbon Market Watch is pleased to share our recommendations for Article 6 negotiations. Strong rules to avoid double-counting of emission reductions There is a significant risk that emission reductions under the Paris Agreement could be counted towards two or more climate commitments…

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