A carbon market allows investors and corporations to trade carbon credits and carbon offsets simultaneously. This reduces the environmental impact as well as creating new market opportunities.
New challenges almost always create new markets. The continuing climate crisis and increasing global emissions aren’t an exception.
The renewed enthusiasm for carbon market is relatively new. The carbon trading market has existed since the 1997 Kyoto Protocols. However, the rise of regional markets has triggered an explosion of investment.
The United States, no national carbon market is in place in the United States, and only one state – California – has a formal cap-and-trade carbon credit exchange program.
The introduction of new mandatory emissions trading programs as well as the increasing public pressures have pushed companies towards the market on a voluntary basis for carbon offsets. Changing public attitudes on carbon emissions and climate change have created a new public policy incentive. Despite an ever-shifting background of federal, state and international regulations it is more important than ever for companies and investors to comprehend carbon credits.
This guide will provide an introduction to carbon credits as well as outline what is happening in the market. It will also describe the way offsets and credits function within existing frameworks and provide a glimpse of the potential for expansion.
1. Carbon credits, offsets, and Markets – An Introduction
The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 and the Paris Agreement of 2015 were international agreements that established international CO2 emissions goals. Since the Kyoto Protocol was ratified in all but six countries and a total of six countries, they have led to national emissions targets and the regulations to back them.
With the new regulations now in place, the need for businesses to come up with ways to reduce their carbon footprint is increasing. Many of the current interim solutions involve the use of the carbon markets.
What the carbon markets do is convert CO2 emissions to a commodity by giving it the value.
The emissions are classified into one of two categories: Carbon credits or carbon offsets and they can both be bought and sold through the carbon market. This is a straightforward concept that can provide a market-based solution to a complicated issue.
2. What are carbon credits and carbon offsets?
The terms are frequently used interchangeably, however carbon offsets and carbon credits are based on different mechanisms.
The carbon credits are also known as carbon allowances, act like emissions permits. If a business purchases a carbon credit, typically from the government, they gain the right to produce one tonne in CO2 emission. With carbon credits, carbon revenue is remitted horizontally from the companies to the regulators, though companies who have excess credits may sell the credits to other businesses.
Offsets flow horizontally and trade carbon revenue between different companies. If one company takes carbon from the atmosphere as part of their normal work, they could generate carbon offset. Other businesses can then purchase the carbon offset in order to lower their carbon footprint.
Note that the two terms are frequently used in conjunction, and carbon offsets are commonly called “offset credits”. But, the distinction between compliance credits for regulatory purposes and voluntary offsets should be considered.
3. How do carbon offsets and carbon credits get created?
Credits and offsets comprise two slightly different markets, though the primary unit traded is the same , the equivalent of one ton of carbon emissions, also referred to as CO2e.
It’s worth noting that the term “a ton of CO2 refers to a literal measurement of weight. How much CO2 does it weigh in the weight of a ton?
The average American generates 16 tons of CO2e a year, through driving, shopping, using electricity and gas in the home and doing the flurry of daily life.
To further put that emission to a different perspective, you could produce one tonne of CO2e if you drove the typical 22 mpg vehicle to New York to Las Vegas.
Carbon credits are issued by either international or national governmental organizations. We’ve previously discussed the Kyoto as well as the Paris agreements that established the first carbon markets on an international scale.
in the U.S., California operates its own carbon market, and issues credits to residents for electric and gas consumption.
The number of credits issued each year is typically dependent on the emission targets. Credits are frequently given under an “cap-and-trade” programme. Regulators establish a limit for carbon emissions – called the cap. That cap slowly decreases as time passes, making it more difficult and more difficult for companies to stay within that cap.
You can think of carbon credits as an “permission slip” that allows a company to emit up to a certain specific amount of CO2 each year.
Around the globe, cap-and-trade programs are in operation in Canada, the EU in the EU, the UK, China, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea, with many more states and countries looking into their implementation.
So, companies are compelled to reduce the emissions their business operations produce to stay under their caps.
In essence, a cap-and-trade program eases the burden on companies who are trying to reach their emission targets in the short run and provides market incentives to reduce carbon emissions more quickly.
Carbon offsets are a bit different…
Organizations with operations that reduce the carbon dioxide already present in the air, such as by planting more trees , or investing in renewable energy sources, have the ability to provide carbon offsets. They are voluntary, which is why carbon offsets are referred to in”the “Voluntary Carbon Market”. By purchasing offsets with carbon, companies are able to reduce the amount of CO2 they release even more.
4. What is the carbon market?
Concerning carbon credits being sold within the carbon marketplace, there are two significant market segments to pick from.
One is a market that is regulated that is governed by “cap-and-trade” regulations at both the state and regional levels.
The third is a voluntary market where businesses and individuals buy credits (of their own accord) to offset the carbon emission they generate.
Think about it as follows: the regulatory market is mandated, and the market for voluntary is an option.
Concerning regulation, each firm that is enrolled in a cap and trade program is issued a certain number of carbon credits each year. Some of these businesses produce less emissions than the amount of credits that they’re granted and thus have a surplus in carbon credits.
On the other hand, some companies (particularly those that are older and less efficient operations) generate more carbon emissions than the amount of credits they receive each year can cover. Businesses are seeking for carbon credits to offset their emissions as they must.
Most major companies have taken action and have or announced plans to reduce their environmental footprint. But, the amount of carbon credits they are allocated each year (which is based on the company’s size as well as on the effectiveness of their operations in comparison the industry’s benchmarks). This may not be enough to satisfy their requirements.
No matter how technologically advanced however, certain businesses are years removed from decreasing their emissions significantly. Yet, they still have to continue providing goods and services to generate the cash they need to lower the carbon footprint of their operations.
As such, they need to find a way to mitigate the carbon they’re already releasing.
So, when companies achieve their emission targets, they will be able to “
cap
,” they look towards the market for regulation to “
Trade
” to ensure that they stay below the limit.
Here’s an example:
Let’s say two firms, Company 1 and Company 2 are allowed to emit 300 tonnes of carbon.
In reality, Company 1 is on the path to emit the equivalent of 400 tonnes of carbon in the coming year, while Company 2 will only be emitting 200 tons.
To avoid penalties comprised of fines and extra taxes, Company 1 can make up for the extra 100 tons of CO2e by purchasing credits at Company 2, who has an extra amount of emissions because they produced 100 tons less carbon than they were permitted to.
The Difference Between The Voluntary and Compliance Markets
The voluntary market works a bit differently. The companies in this market have the opportunity to work with businesses and individuals who are concerned about the environment and are seeking for carbon offsets to reduce their footprint because they want to. There isn’t any requirement here.
It could be an environmentally conscious business that would like to prove that they’re doing their part to help protect the environment. Or , it could be someone who is environmentally conscious and seeks to reduce the amount of carbon they’re putting into the air as they travel.
For instance, in 2021 the oil company Shell has announced that it will seek to reduce 120 million tonnes greenhouse gas emissions until 2030.
Regardless of their reasoning the companies are searching for ways to be involved in the carbon market offers a way for companies to be able to participate.
Both the regulatory and voluntary marketplaces work together in the professional (and also in the individual) world. They also help to make buyers more accessible to ranchers, farmers and landowners who’s activities often result in carbon offsets for sale.
5. Overall size of carbon offset markets
The market for carbon credits that are voluntary is difficult to measure. The cost of carbon credits fluctuates, particularly for carbon offsetsas the value is closely tied to the perceived quality of the issuing company. Third-party validation adds a degree of control to the process, guaranteeing that every carbon offset results from real-world emission reductions however, there are often disparities between different types of carbon offsets.
Although the market for carbon emissions was estimated to be worth approximately $400 million last year Forecasts put the value of the market at between $10-25 billion for 2030 contingent on how ferociously countries all over the world strive to achieve their climate change goals.
Despite the difficulties, analysts agree that participation in the carbon market that is voluntary is increasing rapidly. Even at the growth rate depicted above the voluntary carbon market would be far from the level of the amount of investment needed for the world to achieve the goals that are set in the Paris Agreement.
6. How can carbon credits be produced?
Different types of companies are able to create and sell carbon credits cutting, capturing and conserving emissions by using different methods.
The most well-known kinds of carbon offsetting projects are:
Energy projects that are renewable,
Energy efficiency is improved,
Carbon and methane capture , as well as sequestration
Reforestation and land use.
Renewable energy projects have already been in existence long before the carbon credit market became in popular. A lot of countries around the world are blessed with an abundance of natural renewable energy sources. Countries like Brazil or Canada with numerous lakes and rivers as well as countries like Denmark and Germany with lots of windy regions. In countries like these renewable energy was an attractive and low-cost source of power generation and they now provide an additional benefit in the form of carbon offset creation.
Energy efficiency enhancements can be a part of renewable energy projects by reducing energy consumption of the current infrastructure and buildings. Even simple everyday changes like swapping your household lights from incandescent bulbs to LED ones will benefit the environment by reducing the power consumption. On a larger scale it could involve things such as renovating or enhancing industrial processes to make them more efficient, or distributing more efficient appliances to the poor.
Carbon and methane extraction involves using techniques to eliminate methane and CO2 (which is more than 20 times more damaging to the environment that CO2) from the air.
Methane is easier to manage, since it can be burned off to create CO2. Although this may sound counter-productive initially, considering that methane is more than 20 times more harmful to the atmosphere than CO2, converting methane into one molecule CO2 through combustion can reduce net emissions by over 95%.
In the case of carbon, the capture usually happens directly at the source, such as from power plants or chemical plants. Although the injection of underground carbon has been employed for various reasons, such as enhanced oil recovery for decades already, the idea of storing this carbon long-term and treating it like radioactive waste is an entirely new concept.
Land use and reforestation projects use the carbon sinks of Mother Nature that are soil and trees that absorb carbon from the atmosphere. This includes protecting and restoring forests that have been damaged, creating new forests, as well as soil management.
Plants convert CO2 from the atmosphere into organic matter through photosynthesis. The result is that it ends up in the ground to decay into dead plant matter. Once the CO2 is absorbed by the soil, the enriching soil helps to restore the soil’s natural qualities – enhancing crop yield while reducing pollution.
7. How can companies offset carbon emissions
There are many ways that companies can offset carbon emissions.
Although not an exhaustive list, these are most popular practices that usually qualify as offset projects:
In investing in renewable energy through providing funds for hydro, wind geothermal and solar power generation projects, or switching to such power sources when is possible.
Enhancing energy efficiency throughout all over the world, such as by providing more efficient cook stoves for people who live in rural or more impoverished areas.
Removing carbon from the atmosphere , and using it to produce biofuel creates a carbon neutral fuel source.
Recycling biomass to the soil for mulching after harvest instead of removing it or burning. This reduces the amount of water evaporating from the soil’s surface and aids in preserving the water. The biomass also assists in feeding earthworms and soil microbes. allowing nutrients to cycle and help strengthen the soil’s structure.
Promotion of forest regeneration through tree-planting and reforestation programs.
Moving to alternative fuels like biofuels that are lower in carbon such as corn and biomass-derived ethanol and biodiesel.
If you’re wondering about how carbon offsets and allotment amounts are valued and determined by these processes then take a deep breath. Monitoring emissions and reductions can be a difficult task even for the most experienced professional.
Make sure you know that in relation to voluntary and regulated markets, there are third-party auditors who review, collect, and analyze data to prove the legitimacy of every offset project.
But be cautious when purchasing online or from other companies Not all offset initiatives are certified by appropriate third-party organizations, and those that aren’tusually considered to be of low-quality.
8. Voluntary vs. Compulsory: most significant difference between offsets and credits offsets
Participation in a cap-and trade scheme generally isn’t a choice. Your company either needs to respect the carbon credit limit that are set by regulators or no limits are set. As the world continues to adopt cap-and-trade programs, companies increasingly require participation in carbon credit programs.
Carbon credits intentionally create a burden for companies. As a result, the most effective cap-and trade programs provide a precise structure to reduce carbon emissions. There aren’t all programs in the same way, but at their best carbon credits provide a clear impact on total carbon emissions.
In contrast, carbon offsets are a marketplace that is purely voluntary.
There’s nothing in the law that forces companies to purchase carbon offsets. This is way far and beyond, specifically for companies operating where cap-and-trade programs haven’t been established yet. Precisely for that reason, offsets have a few advantages that credits simply don’t.
© The Summer Whine 2025