Annual Report 2019

Foreword 2019 was an exciting and full year for Carbon Market Watch (CMW). On the wings of the global youth movement asking for better climate protection, the issue of climate change gained prominence it had never achieved before. It was finally brought to the attention of policymakers in a manner that will hopefully be sustained …

International carbon markets at the frontier to the wild west

The failure to agree on rules for international carbon markets at COP 25 has been a victory for some and a disaster for others. Looking at it pragmatically, it was very much a “disaster averted” outcome since the rules on the table would have legitimised the use of markets riddled with loopholes. Far from ideal, …

COP25 outcome puts pressure on ICAO to ensure robust rules for aviation carbon market

The failure to agree on robust rules to prevent double-counting at the UN climate change conference puts the UN aviation body in a difficult spot as it defines which programmes will be eligible under the future aviation offsetting scheme. It will be paramount to guarantee that airlines will only be allowed to use good quality …

COP25: No deal on UN carbon markets as a number of countries reject loopholes

MADRID 15 DECEMBER 2019 Governments at the UN climate talks (COP 25) postponed decisions on future carbon market rules after no agreement was reached on the most contentious issues such as the fate of old credits and measures to avoid double-counting. Carbon Market Watch commends countries who defended strong carbon market rules and calls on …

Dodgy carbon market rules risk undermining the Paris Agreement

MADRID 10th December 2019. The UN carbon market talks are at a crossroads in Madrid as ministers take over today. Carbon Market Watch calls on governments to only accept a deal that bans old Kyoto credits, includes rules to avoid double-counting,  and to ensure that markets reduce emissions, and include strong environmental and social safeguards. …

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 …

Carbon Market Watch Newsletter – November 2019

Global Carbon Markets Could Make Or Break Climate Action Dear friends, Just five weeks before the UN climate summit (COP25) was due to start in Santiago, the Chilean government pulled the plug on the event amid ongoing violent protests against deep inequalities in one of the wealthiest Latin American countries. While the talks found a …

What does flight shame have to do with global carbon markets?

In two parallel global climate processes governments need to finalise details for both international carbon markets under the Paris Agreement and the future aviation offsetting scheme CORSIA. Meanwhile, citizens are losing patience with their leaders that move too slowly in the face of a climate breakdown. Strong action is therefore expected from decision-makers if they …