May 1, 2024
In Episode 100 of Bionic Planet, part of the Tribes of the Climate Realm vertical, we delve into the origins of the voluntary carbon market -- a story that has never been told before.
Today's show is the first of many offering a truer, completer, and more accurate glimpse into the origins of the Voluntary Carbon Market than you've probably ever heard before.
The episode draws on a 2022 discussion with environmental economists Marc Stuart and Mark Kenber, who were instrumental in creating the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) in 2005 to meet two core objectives: first, to accelerate emission reductions in the wake of failed government policy and, second, to test new approaches to meeting the climate challenge.
We offer a brief history of climate negotiations leading up to 2005 and the exclusion of forest protection and sustainable farming from the Kyoto Protocol and the Marrakesh Accords. The discussion touches on the complexities of integrating these crucial elements into the market, emphasizing the importance of balancing environmental integrity with development-focused activities.
Join me, Steve Zwick, in this insightful journey through the history and evolution of the voluntary carbon market, as we strive to create a more sustainable future for our planet. Thank you for tuning in to Episode 100 of Bionic Planet.
Related Links
049 | Forests in the Paris Climate Agreement, Part 1: The Birth
of Forest Carbon
https://bionic-planet.com/podcast-episode/049-forests-in-the-paris-climate-agreement-part-1-the-birth-of-forest-carbon/
064 | Race to Zero: Meet the Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary
Carbon
https://bionic-planet.com/podcast-episode/064-race-to-zero-meet-the-taskforce-on-scaling-voluntary-carbon/
75 l Coverage of Climate Solutions Suffer the Same Fate as
Coverage of Climate Science?
https://bionic-planet.com/podcast-episode/75-l-coverage-of-climate-solutions-suffer-the-same-fate-as-coverage-of-climate-science/
Timestamps
Introduction to the History of the Voluntary Carbon Market
The Origins of the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS)
The Role of Carbon Markets in Addressing Climate Change
The Failure of Governments to Address Climate Change
The Evolution of Voluntary Carbon Standards
The Importance of Ending Deforestation
The Emergence of Voluntary Carbon Markets in the 1980s
The Kyoto Protocol and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
The Exclusion of Forest Protection from the Kyoto Protocol
The Creation of the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS)
Challenges in Implementing Standards for Forest Protection
The Need for Unified Rules in Carbon Markets
The Involvement of NGOs, Businesses, and Organizations in Developing Standards
The Controversy Surrounding Inclusion of Forest Conservation
The Importance of Addressing Permanence and Fungibility
The Collaboration Between NGOs and Businesses in Developing Standards
The Importance of Including Forest Conservation in Carbon Markets
The Role of NGOs in Advocating for Inclusion of Forest Conservation
The Significance of Learning from Past Lessons
Call to Action for Support and Sponsorship