Summary (updated 21 January 2021) Encouraging the private sector to support climate action in developing countries is a positive objective. Carbon markets could have a role in this if implemented carefully. Markets should be used to channel finance towards impactful projects while taking care to not abusively rely on the achieved emission reductions to justify…
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…
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…
Key elements for the revision of the EU ETS The upcoming revision of the EU Emission Trading System represents a crucial opportunity to strengthen the Directive and ensure it contributes to the goals of the Paris Agreement. Carbon Market Watch believes that the upcoming review should include the following elements. An increase of the Linear…
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,…
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…
With more information on the design options that the European Commission is considering for a Carbon Border Adjustment Measure (CBAM) and slightly more clarity on the different options available, Carbon Market Watch has updated its position and refined the key principles originally presented in the briefing “Carbon Border Adjustments: Climate Protection or Climate Protectionism?” published…
Carbon Market Watch supports the UK Government’s proposal to continue to price GHG emissions from January 1st, 2021, following the UK’s exit from the EU. We would like to highlight the importance of ensuring that coverage of such a pricing mechanism be at least as extensive as it is under the EU ETS, that prices…
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…
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…
Carbon pricing 
International transport 
Climate governance 
Fair climate action