The Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) is a platform for buying and selling carbon credits and offsets on a voluntary basis. Carbon credits and offsets are a way for individuals, companies, and organizations to offset their greenhouse gas emissions by funding projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

A carbon credit represents a reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions, while a carbon offset represents a project that results in the removal of CO2e emissions from the atmosphere. These credits and offsets are traded in the VCM, providing buyers with a means to offset their carbon footprint while helping sellers generate revenue from their emission reduction projects.

The VCM is distinct from compliance markets, which are regulated markets that require companies to meet certain emissions reduction targets. In contrast, the VCM is a voluntary market where participants can buy and sell carbon credits and offsets without any specific regulations.

The VCM has been growing in recent years due to increased awareness of the impacts of climate change and the need for carbon reduction strategies. Companies, organizations, and individuals are increasingly seeking to offset their carbon footprint and contribute to the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, many companies are setting net-zero emissions targets and are turning to the VCM to help achieve these goals.

There are several standards and certification programs in place to ensure the quality and credibility of carbon credits and offsets traded in the VCM. These include the Gold Standard, Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards (CCB), and the American Carbon Registry (ACR). These programs provide verification and certification of carbon credits and offsets, ensuring that they meet certain environmental and social criteria.

Overall, the VCM provides a flexible and accessible way for individuals, companies, and organizations to contribute to the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. As the demand for carbon credits and offsets continues to grow, the VCM is likely to play an increasingly important role in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Global Voluntary Carbon Market Size Expected to Grow 5x by 2030

The global voluntary carbon market size is expected to grow from approximately $2 billion in 2021 to $50–30 billion in 2030, according to forecasts from Shell, Boston Consulting (2022) and McKinsey & Company (2021).

McKinsey & Company estimated the amount of carbon emissions to be reduced by 2030 to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5℃ compared to pre-industrial times under the Paris Agreement at 23 billion tonnes (23 Gt), as shown below.

That’s half of 2020’s emissions. While aggressive cuts are required, companies’ own reduction efforts alone have cost and technology limitations, so they believe they can achieve their reduction goals by removing carbon from outside the company and then purchasing carbon credits issued.


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