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Posts Tagged ‘Greenhouse Gas’

“A carbon offset or (carbon credits) is assumed to be a financial instrument which shows greenhouse gases emission reduction and helps us to take personal responsibility for the environmental consequences of our activities.”

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important greenhouse gas produced by human activities, primarily through the combustion of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal. As a result of tremendous world-wide consumption of such fossil fuels, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased over the past century which ultimately resulted in a global warming, the prime suspect in the greatest mass extinction of all time – wiping out 95% of all life forms on the planet.

We all are responsible to add CO2 and ultimately the global warming. Carbon footprint is a measure of the impact of our activities on the environment, and in particular on climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases we are producing in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating, transportation etc.

As the Global Warming issues are getting attention of the masses, people are seeking a perfect solution to handle the situation before it becomes too late.Carbon offsets are becoming an increasingly popular way for individuals and businesses to participate in solutions to global warming. Carbon offsets help us to balance out our carbon footprint easily and effectively in a more peaceful manner. Offsetting emissions is a process whereby an individual or organisation purchases carbon credits to neutralise its global warming impact. Each carbon credit represents the abatement or sequestration of one tonne of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases – or carbon emissions – from our atmosphere.

The basic idea behind carbon offsetting is that you pay to fund projects that neutralise CO2 emissions produced by you. You invest your contributions towards greenhouse gases reduction through projects which produce clean energy that replaces the energy production from fossil fuel. Wind farms project is a good example of such projects. Other types of offsets available for sale on the market include those resulting from energy efficiency projects, methane capture from landfills or livestock, destruction of potent greenhouse gases such as halocarbons, and carbon sequestration projects (through reforestation, or agriculture) that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Carbon credits allow us to become more “Carbon Neutral”. You may be doing everything that you possibly can to reduce your carbon footprint, but it still might not be enough. Despite your energy saving, recycling and green transportation efforts at home and at work, you still may feel like you are not adequately reducing your carbon footprint. In this situation you can consider buying carbon credits for the more promising results and peace of mind at the same time. When you purchase carbon credits you help lower your carbon footprint and you prevent global warming. Before you purchase your carbon credits always make sure that the organization you are supporting is legit and is truly helping the environment.

Carbon credits are becoming a key component of national and international attempts to mitigate the growth in concentrations of greenhouse gases. There are many benefits for a business to reduce their carbon footprint and become carbon neutral when skyrocketing energy costs eat into profits. A carbon credit is the best way to help individuals and companies reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by offsetting them in a more environmentally friendly way.

Incoming search terms:

• carbon capture
• co2 sequestration
• whirlpool carbon credit offset

Along with positive ideas come those scammers who are out to make a buck. Even though trading in carbon credits is still in its infancy, there are those who are already taking advantage of what may be a very beneficial environmental program. To first understand how to avoid being taken advantage of, it is important to understand exactly what carbon credits are.

Carbon credits are part of national and international attempts to stop the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. One carbon credit is equal to one ton of carbon. Many individuals are now taking an interest in their carbon footprints, trying to lower their usage, as well as trying different ways to offset their usage. Carbon credits are part of an approach to emissions trading. With a certain amount of greenhouse gas allotted to markets, each individual group is given the opportunity to decide how much of a limited amount can be designated to each area. This allows for industries to control the amount of greenhouse gases they are using. This also allows industrial and commercial processes to market in the direction of lower emissions, or utilize approaches that are designed to not emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This helps to finance carbon reduction schemes.

Many companies sell carbon credits. These carbon credits are sold to companies who voluntarily desire to lower their carbon footprint. Carbon credits are purchased from investment funds or carbon development companies. Many of these companies have saved these credits from other individual products and offset themselves and the buyers by selling them. The quality of the credits is based on the validation process, the type of fund, and the development company. The price is also affected by these things. Voluntary units typically have less value than the units sold through the rigorously-validated Clean Development Mechanism.

There are two distinct types of Carbon Credits: Carbon Offset Credits (COCs) and Carbon Reduction Credits (CRCs). Carbon Offset Credits consist of clean forms of energy production, wind, solar, hydro and biofuels. Carbon Reduction Credits consists of the collection and storage of Carbon from the earth’s atmosphere through reforestation, forestation, ocean and soil collection and storage efforts. Both ways are valid and positively recognized, each used in different situations.

Whether or not you decide that the use of carbon credits are for you, it is important to know how to avoid being scammed.

• First and foremost, do your research on the company you are thinking of buying credit from. It is necessary to see if the industrial companies are actually implementing reductions in carbon use and greenhouse emissions or if they are really doing very little.

• They need to have verification. A shortage of verification makes it difficult for buyers to assess the true value of carbon credits. Reliable third party verification is critical.

• Be careful of companies or individuals that are over-pricing their carbon credits. Why are their credits more expensive? What is their value? Have their prices increased or decreased due to changes in their emissions reductions?

Do the research before purchasing carbon credits. It is important to find if the organization has any history of selling worthless credits which do not yield reductions. There is no point in purchasing carbon credits if they do not benefit you or the environment.

Incoming search terms:

• carbon storage
• carbon footprint

GlobalData, the leading business intelligence provider, has released its latest research study “Global Carbon Policy Handbook, 2010: Policies Driving the Growth of Carbon Trading Markets”, which is an offering from the company’s Energy Research Group. The report provides an in-depth analysis on the carbon policy initiatives by the European Union, the US, Canada, Australia and other developed and developing economies. It details the regional climate change initiatives, the Kyoto Protocol and its mechanisms. It also provides an analysis on Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) projects. The report provides an overview on various carbon registries, carbon exchanges and the major companies participating in the carbon trade. The report provides the latest information on the value, volume and price of the emissions traded in project-based mechanisms, such as CDM, JI and Secondary CDM, and allowance markets such as the European Union’s (EU) Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), New South Wales, Chicago Climate, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and Assigned Amount Units (AAUs). The report discusses some of the reasons for the growth of carbon markets and provides carbon market forecasts until 2020.

Scope

The report provides a detailed analysis on the global carbon policy initiatives driving the carbon trading markets. Its scope is as follows.
– Impact assessment of the carbon policies in the United States (US), the European Union (EU), Canada, Australia and Asia Pacific regions on the world carbon trading markets.
– Carbon trading value from 2010-2020, which help in identifying a market potential.
– Key carbon regulations and policies at regional level in the US and unified carbon regulatory framework in the EU and their impact on the growth of global carbon trading market.
– Analyzes the probable regional policy instruments in the US and Asia Pacific regions, which will drive the global carbon trading markets beyond 2012.
– Key carbon regulations and policies at regional level in the US and unified carbon regulatory framework in the EU and their impact on the growth of global carbon trading market.
– Analyzes the regional policy instruments in the US and Asia Pacific regions, which will drive the global carbon trading markets.
– Review of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in the Asia Pacific and Sub-Saharan regions in 2009
– Details on various Kyoto mechanisms and helps in identifying potential markets by navigating the policy landscape worldwide from 2005-2012.
– Key data and information on the volume and market value of carbon allowances, covering both project-based transactions and allowance-based transactions from 2004-09.
– Historic pricing trends for carbon in various exchanges and project-based transactions from 2004-09.
– Analyzes market-based instruments such as certifications and standards used in carbon trading in 2009.
– Overview on investment firms, infrastructure and energy service providers, advisory companies, financial firms, brokerage firms, carbon solution providers and other auditing firms participating in carbon trade.

Reasons to buy

- The report will enhance your decision making capabilities in a rapid and time sensitive manner.
– Develop business strategies with the help of specific insights into policy decisions being taken on the carbon credits trade by EU 27, the US, Australia and other developed and emerging countries worldwide.
– Identify opportunities and challenges in exploiting carbon emission reduction projects worldwide.
– Understand the market positioning of carbon credits in correlation with carbon policies.
– Increase future revenue and profitability with the help of insights on the opportunities and critical success factors of the EU ETS in the carbon trading market.
– Benchmark your investments against the major players in the carbon trading markets.
– Be ahead of the competition by keeping yourself abreast with all of the latest policy changes on carbon mitigation globally.
– Plan your investments to minimize the impact of carbon taxes due to changing carbon policies.
– Plan your project locations and project types in order to capitalize on the growing carbon allowance market.
– Identify the most suitable geography to invest in emission reduction projects.
– Target the most suitable geography for emission reduction projects based on the policies to gain incentives.
– Develop custom strategies for different geographies based on the stringency of the carbon policy in the respective area.
– Navigate the carbon policies through detailed analysis of existing carbon allowance market dynamics and potential changes.
– Identify the most promising geography to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, in order to minimize carbon taxes.

1 Table of contents 4
1.1 List of Tables 6
1.2 List of Figures 7

2 Introduction 8
2.1 Overview 8
2.2 GlobalData Report Guidance 9

3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and its Impact on Global Carbon Policies 10
3.1 Impact of GHGs on Ecology 10
3.1.1 Introduction to Global Warming 10
3.1.2 Illustrations of Ecological Imbalance due to Excess Carbon 10
3.2 Global Initiatives to Reduce Carbon Footprint 11
3.2.1 The Kyoto Protocol and its Implementation Challenges 11
3.2.2 Development of Natural and Artificial Carbon Sequestration Techniques, Energy Efficiency Projects and Renewables 11
3.2.3 Evolution of Carbon Trading Market 12

4 Global Carbon Policy Frameworks Boosting Emissions Trading Markets 13
4.1 Overview of Regulatory Framework for Emission Trading Systems 13
4.1.1 American Clean Energy and Security Act and its Implications 13
4.1.2 European Union’s Climate Change Policy 14
4.1.3 Climate Change Initiatives in Canada and Prospects for Emissions Trading 18
4.1.4 Australia’s Climate Change Initiatives will Aid the Emission Trading Mechanism 18
4.2 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 18
4.3 Kyoto Protocol, a Precursor of Emissions Trading Systems 18
4.3.1 Overview of Kyoto Protocol, Participating Nations 18
4.3.2 Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) 21
4.3.3 Joint Implementation and Assigned Amount Units 40
4.3.4 Emission Trading 47
4.4 Increasing Role of International Emissions Trading and International Emissions Trading Association in Boosting the Market 48
4.4.1 Objectives of IETA 48
4.4.2 Program by IETA 48
4.5 Various Regulatory Frameworks and Regional Initiatives in the US 49
4.5.1 American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 50
4.5.2 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in the US 52
4.5.3 California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 AB 32 53
4.5.4 Western Climate Initiative 54
4.5.5 Midwestern Regional GHG Reduction Accord (MGGRA) 55
4.5.6 EPA Climate Leaders 55
4.5.7 Hawaii Global Warming Solutions Act of 2007 55
4.6 European Union Emissions Trading System Promotes Emissions Trading Market 55
4.6.1 EU ETS 56
4.6.2 Revised EU ETS 56
4.7 Japan’s Keidanren Voluntary Action Plan and Other Voluntary Markets 57
4.8 Emission Reduction Schemes of Australia 59
4.8.1 New South Wales Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme 59
4.8.2 Greenhouse Challenge Plus 59
4.8.3 Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme 59
4.9 Canadian Government’s Measures and Initiatives Drive Carbon Trading 60
4.10 Policies and Market Instruments Driving Carbon Trading Programs in Other Countries 61
4.10.1 Policy and Market Mechanisms in China 61
4.10.2 Policy and Market Mechanisms in South Korea 62
4.10.3 Policy and Market Mechanisms in New Zealand 62
4.10.4 Policy and Market Mechanisms in Russia 63
4.10.5 Policy and Market Mechanisms in Sub-Saharan 63
4.11 Impact of COP 15 on Carbon Policies and Emission Trading 64

5 Regional and Global Carbon Exchanges and Carbon Trading Markets 65
5.1 Increasing Role off Standard-Specific and Existing Registries 66
5.1.1 North American Markets 68
5.1.2 The Chicago Climate Exchange 69
5.1.3 European Union Emissions Trading System Market 71
5.1.4 The Australian Carbon Market 72
5.2 Project-Based Transactions by Region and Project Type 72
5.2.1 CDM and JI Buyers, Sellers and Over-the-Counter (OTC) Markets 73

6 Development of Certifications, Standards and Other Initiatives Facilitating Emissions Trading 76
6.1 American Carbon Registry Standard 77
6.2 The Climate Action Reserve Protocols 77
6.3 The CarbonFix Standard 77
6.4 Chicago Climate Exchange Offsets Program 78
6.5 Climate, Community, and Biodiversity Standards 78
6.6 EPA Climate Leaders Offset Guidance 78
6.7 Greenhouse Gas Services Standard 78
6.8 The Gold Standard 78
6.9 Greenhouse Friendly 79
6.10 ISO 14064 Standards 79
6.11 Plan Vivo 79
6.12 Social Carbon Standard 79
6.13 TUV NORD Climate Change Standard and VER+ Standard 79
6.14 Voluntary Carbon Standard 80

7 Competitive Landscape of Emission Trading Companies 81
7.1 3Degrees Incorporated 81
7.2 APX Incorporated 81
7.3 Baker & McKenzie 81
7.4 Blue Source 81
7.5 CantorCO2e 81
7.6 Climate Focus 82
7.7 Credit Suisse 82
7.8 EcoSecurities Group 82
7.9 Equator LLC 82
7.10 MGM International 82
7.11 Natsource 83
7.12 RNK Capital LLC 83
7.13 Sterling Planet, Incorporated 83
7.14 Tradition Financial Services/TFS Energy/TFS Green 83
7.15 TUV SUD America 83

8 Appendix 84
8.1 Abbreviations 84
8.2 Methodology 85
8.2.1 Coverage 86
8.2.2 Secondary Research 86
8.2.3 Primary Research 87
8.2.4 Expert Panel Validation 87
8.3 Contact Us 87
8.4 Disclaimer 87

Incoming search terms:

• co2 carbon capture sequestration
• Global Carbon Policy Handbook 2010 - Policies Driving the Growth of Carbon Trading Markets