Carbon markets 101: policy, price, and the path to global integration

Carbon markets are evolving rapidly, shaped by new international frameworks, regional trading platforms, and voluntary initiatives working toward greater structure and interoperability. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement is gaining traction through bilateral agreements such as those of Japan and Ghana and the operationalisation of the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism, enabling cooperative emissions reductions. Programmes like the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) are driving progress on credit quality, tracking, and transparency. In 2023, the value of traded carbon markets reached a record US$949 billion, reflecting rising private sector interest despite ongoing concerns around integrity and double counting. Today, countries are developing carbon credit infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. At the same time, corporate buyers such as energy-intensive industries and digital platforms are reshaping demand by tightening procurement criteria and exploring direct investment in nature-based and engineered carbon removal. For energy producers, investors and developers, credibility, liquidity and policy alignment remain key to building confidence and scale.

Attendee insights:

Gain strategic insights into the policy, financial, and operational foundations of global carbon markets, and explore how companies, banks, and regulators are responding to evolving buyer expectations, new demand signals, and the future of cross-border carbon credit trading.