Carbon Connection: Recent Episodes
Climate Action Reserve
The Climate Action Reserve is the most experienced and trusted offset registry to serve the carbon markets. As more organizations look to combat climate change and support environmental projects with true integrity, they turn to the Reserve to foster real solutions and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Through Carbon Connection, the Reserve's in-house experts will explore our high-quality standards for carbon offset projects and discuss climate change practices that benefit economies, ecosystems, and society.
Initiative 2117 (I-2117) on the Washington state ballot could fundamentally alter the state’s approach to climate policy. I-2117 seeks to prohibit state agencies from implementing any form of carbon tax credit trading, including cap-and-trade/invest programs, and would repeal significant portions of the landmark 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act. In this episode, we’re joined by Isaac Kastama, Managing Partner of Water Street Public Affairs LLC and who lobbies on behalf of Clean & Prosperous Washington, and Tom Wolf, bp America’s Senior Government Relations Manager, U.S. West Coast. Together we will explore potential consequences of the initiative, what it means for Washington’s climate goals and investments, and the broader question – should this measure become law? Whether you’re following the initiative closely or just tuning in, this episode will provide an in-depth look at a pivotal moment for climate policy in Washington and beyond.
The intersection of carbon markets and agriculture is evolving, with the Reserve’s U.S. Soil Enrichment Protocol (SEP) leading the way in incentivizing greenhouse gas reductions and enhancing carbon storage in soils. Currently undergoing an update, the SEP will soon feature improvements designed to encourage broader adoption and advance climate-positive agricultural practices. In this episode, McKenzie Smith, Associate Director, and Alison Nord, Manager at the Climate Action Reserve, share insights into these updates and their potential impact. Discover how the updated SEP is setting the stage for a more sustainable future in carbon markets and the agricultural sector.
The Climate Action Reserve’s Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) program has experienced significant growth and development over the past years. In this episode, we sit down with Amy Kessler, the Reserve’s Director of Latin America, to explore key updates on this expansion, including new partnerships and emerging opportunities in the region. We’ll delve into what makes a carbon project successful in LAC, discuss the positive impacts these initiatives are having on local communities and ecosystems, and look ahead to what’s next for the program.
Welcome to Season 3 of Carbon Connection! Join us as we kick off with an insightful conversation with Craig Ebert, President of the Climate Action Reserve, and take stock of the past year’s achievements for the Reserve and evolution of the carbon market. In this special year-in-review episode, Craig shares his reflections on the progress made in 2024 for carbon markets, the impact of key initiatives, and the future direction of the Reserve. From policy shifts to innovative partnerships, we explore the milestones that have shaped the organization and what lies ahead in the fight against climate change.
Initiatives are underway to address integrity and scale in the voluntary carbon market (VCM). These international efforts to establish high-quality carbon market standards need to succeed to build confidence and move the market forward. In this special episode, President of the Climate Action Reserve Craig Ebert will discuss the work of these initiatives and how the Reserve continues to support scale and integrity by developing GHG accounting standards that achieve real emissions reductions, benefit communities, and support sustainable development goals (SDGs).
You may have heard the term 'biochar' thrown around in recent climate conversations but may not know the carbon in biochar resists degradation and can hold carbon in soils for hundreds to thousands of years. In this episode, our Reserve in-house expert and Director of Nature-Based Solutions Jon Remucal, and CEO of Pacific Biochar Josiah Hunt will explore the potential uses of biochar, its ability to bring co-benefits to communities, and what a biochar project may look like under Climate Action Reserve's upcoming U.S. and Canada Biochar Protocol.
The benefits of offsets go beyond emissions reductions and have historically provided new environmental, social, and economic opportunities for local and rural communities. These co-benefits can touch on many aspects of community livelihoods: biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, water conservation and management, and social equity and justice. In this episode, Ana Moreno, Coordinator of Climate Change at MiAMBIENTE, will share experiences from Panama on how carbon project design and evaluation can support the inclusion of locally impacted communities and provide greater co-benefits.
In just over a month, leaders from countries around the world will be heading to Dubai for the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) where carbon markets will take a front seat in conversations. COP28 has the opportunity to make further progress on solidifying the rules governing Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and the role of the carbon market in delivering significant global emissions reductions. In this episode, Lisa DeMarco, Senior Partner and CEO at Resilient LLP, will review what to expect at COP28, including the status of operationalizing Article 6, finalizing the world's first global stocktake of climate actions, and much more.
The Reserve is excited to launch its first-ever U.S. Low-Carbon Cement (LCC) Protocol, but what exactly is low-carbon cement? Join McKenzie Smith, our Reserve in-house expert and Associate Director, and Danny Gray, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Business Ops at Eco Material as they provide valuable insights into the significance of LCC in addressing market demands and realizing emission reduction goals via carbon projects utilizing the Reserve’s new LCC Protocol.
As global interest in carbon markets has exploded, the financial industry has increased its focus on potential investment opportunities and the necessity for investments to drive climate action. How have capital flows into carbon markets changed in recent years? What is the significance of these developments? What are the implications of these developments for mitigation? Tune in to hear from Luke Oliver, Managing Director, Head of Climate Investments, and Head of Strategy at KraneShares as we discuss the critical role financial institutions play in solving the climate crisis and maximizing the impact of the carbon market.
Latin America is a critical region for the global carbon market as one of the largest suppliers of voluntary credits. At the same time, a number of countries are forging ahead with government-backed offset protocols, national ETS, or other carbon pricing schemes. Hear from Eduardo Piquero, CEO of MexiCO2, on the advances of carbon markets across the region.
In 2021, the Washington Legislature passed the Climate Commitment Act, which established the state’s cap-and-invest program. The program is one important tool for the state in achieving its greenhouse gas limits set by law: 45% below 1990 levels by 2030, 70% below 1990 levels by 2040, and 95% below 1990 levels and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In this episode, join Claire Boyte-White, who leads Cap-and-Invest Policy Relations with the Washington Department of Ecology, as we explore the ins and outs of Washington's ambitious cap-and-invest program, including auctions held thus far, carbon project development opportunities, and more.
With the global expansion of the voluntary carbon market, efforts have increased to ensure it is equipped to play a critical role in global mitigation efforts. This has led to a variety of efforts to support this market, including the Integrity Council on the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM), the Voluntary Carbon Market Initiative (VCMI), and the Carbon Credit Quality Initiative (CCQI), among others. This episode will discuss with Amy Zell, Technical Director, Voluntary Carbon Markets with the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), the role each of these efforts are playing, the challenges they are facing to support credible market efforts going forward, and expectations from various market players.
As companies and jurisdictions strive to meet their climate goals, carbon credits are an important tool to address their current carbon footprint while they work on reducing that footprint size. How does the VCM ensure these credits being used are of high quality and integrity? How do buyers know carbon credits benefit our environment and truly contribute to ambitious climate goals, as well as ensure projects provide positive economic and social benefits? In this episode, Alexia Kelly, Managing Director of the Carbon Policy and Markets Initiative (CPMI) at the High Tide Foundation will discuss how carbon credit buyers can be empowered to identify high-quality credits and lead the market toward pursuing the highest standards.
Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) refers to the methods and technologies that capture carbon emissions from large point sources like coal-fired power plants and reuse or store them so they will not enter the atmosphere. Although the use of CCUS has been on the rise, rapid global deployment and adoption of these technologies are required to limit the detrimental impacts of climate change according to the IPCC. This episode will review the latest technological developments, challenges to bringing CCUS processes to market at scale, and steps that need to be taken if significant carbon removal is to be achieved with Julio Friedmann, Chief Scientist at Carbon Direct.
We are halfway through 2023 and have seen immense movement in the global voluntary carbon market. In this episode, Fiona Oliver-Glasford, Chief Revenue Officer of ClearBlue Markets, will discuss what developments have been underway in North America and internationally, including pricing, new players and projected growth.
Through 2023 compliance markets in North America remain important tools for reducing emissions, gathering financing to support other climate change options, and reaching climate change goals. In this episode, Justin Johnson, Partner at MMR, will discuss the developments that have been underway, including pricing, new players, projected growth, and potential impacts of these compliance markets.
Offsets are used by organizations and individuals around the world in both compliance programs and voluntary markets to meet emissions reduction goals. Tune in to this ‘Covering Your Basics’ episode with Business Development Manager Lauren Napuck to learn more about the numerous reasons why organizations choose to include offsets in their environmental and sustainability plans.
Las compensaciones son utilizadas por organizaciones e individuos de todo el mundo tanto en programas de cumplimiento como en mercados voluntarios para cumplir con los objetivos de reducción de emisiones. Sintonice este episodio de Carbon Connection para obtener más información sobre las numerosas razones por las que las organizaciones eligen incluir compensaciones en sus planes ambientales y de sostenibilidad. Este episodio está presentado por Judy Gallegos, Administrador de la Reserva.
On international, national, and local levels, social safeguards of carbon offset projects have become a focal point of discussion as they ensure that the environment, livelihood, and equity of local communities are not harmed. Join Business Development Manager Lauren Napuck to learn how the Climate Action Reserve prioritizes and requires social safeguards and regulatory compliance in our projects and the resulting benefits and protections provided to communities.
A nivel internacional, nacional y local, las salvaguardas sociales de los proyectos de compensación de carbono se han convertido en un punto focal de discusión, ya que aseguran que el medio ambiente, los medios de vida y la equidad de las comunidades locales no se vean perjudicados. Únete a este episodio para aprender cómo la Reserva de Acción Climática prioriza y requiere salvaguardas sociales y cumplimiento normativo en nuestros proyectos, así como los beneficios y protecciones resultantes proporcionados a las comunidades. Este episodio está presentado por Claudia Jurado, Analista Asociada para América Latina.
If you are new to carbon markets, you’ve come to the right place! Join this episode with Business Development Manager Lauren Napuck as she introduces carbon markets, including an outline of what they are, the difference between voluntary and compliance, and ways in which you can get involved.
Si no conoce los mercados de carbono, ha venido al lugar adecuado. Participe en este episodio con Celeste Melendez, Analista Asociada, que le presentará los mercados de carbono y le explicará en qué consisten, la diferencia entre voluntariado y cumplimiento, y cómo puede participar en ellos.
As CO2 and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remain in the atmosphere for long periods of time, offsetting reductions in GHG emissions must effectively be permanent. In this episode, Business Development Manager Lauren Napuck will define permanence for offsets, review how it is measured, and share how the Reserve ensures the permanence of our carbon projects through several key mechanisms.
Dado que el CO2 y otras emisiones de GEI permanecen en la atmósfera durante largos periodos de tiempo, la compensación de las reducciones de emisiones de GEI debe ser efectivamente permanente. En este episodio, definiremos la permanencia de las compensaciones, revisaremos cómo se mide y compartiremos cómo la Reserva garantiza la permanencia de nuestros proyectos de carbono a través de varios mecanismos clave. Este episodio está presentado por Miguel López Delgado, Gerente de Equipo Analítico LATAM.
Dentro del programa de la Reserva de Acción Climática, los protocolos son como reglamentos escritos que proporcionan una guía detallada sobre cómo se deben desarrollar los proyectos de compensación y cómo se cuantifican las reducciones de emisiones. En este episodio de" Cubriendo los conceptos básicos ", la Asociada Claudia Jurado revisará el contenido de un protocolo, cómo se utilizan los protocolos en la programación de la Reserva, así como el proceso de desarrollo del protocolo, el cual es fundamental para garantizar la integridad del programa.
¿Tienes curiosidad por saber más sobre los principios rectores detrás de la programación y las compensaciones de la Reserva de Acción Climática? En este episodio de " Cubriendo los conceptos básicos ", la Asociada Judy Gallegos nos explicará los principios básicos que guían nuestro programa y aseguran que las reducciones de emisiones de GEI certificadas por la Reserva sean de la más alta calidad.
Cuando se trata de compensaciones de GEI, la adicionalidad significa estar por encima de lo habitual. Pero, ¿cómo se establece la adicionalidad y por qué es tan importante para el mercado de carbono? En este episodio de 'Cubriendo los aspectos básicos', la Asociada Abbey Garcia nos explicará el concepto de adicionalidad, las formas de comprobarla y cómo se incorpora a cada uno de los protocolos de la Reserva de Acción Climática.
The Climate Action Reserve is the most trusted, efficient, and experienced offset registry for global carbon markets. With deep roots in California and reach across North America, the Reserve encourages actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and works to ensure environmental benefit, integrity, and transparency in market-based solutions to address global climate change. Wrapping up this iteration of the Carbon Connection series, join our last and extra special guest, President of Climate Action Reserve Craig Ebert, as he shares outlooks and expectations for the Reserve, as well as future expansion opportunities as we head into 2023. Craig also highlights the significance of the Reserve’s role in the carbon market and addresses critiques of carbon offsets and the urgency for action. We hope you’ve enjoyed this series with our internal experts and stay tuned for more information on our next series of Carbon Connection coming soon!
Since 2008, Climate Action Reserve has worked closely with actors across Mexico – including government agencies, NGOs, and ejido communities – to develop protocols that generate high quality offsets and comply with the Reserve’s rigorous standards, while further aligning those protocols with the laws, norms, and on the ground conditions in Mexico. The Mexico Forest Protocol was developed in partnership with these stakeholders as an instrument to channel resources into the forest sector in Mexico, especially as 70% of all forests in Mexico are on communally owned lands. For the second time around, we are thrilled to feature Director of Latin America Amy Kessler as she reviews the recently updated Mexico Forest Protocol and its ability to incentivize activities that increase sequestration and long-term carbon storage, while further providing greater environmental and social benefits to ejidos. Amy also discusses what has made the Reserve’s collaborative work in Mexico successful and what the near-term future holds.
Wildfires are a part of nature, serving as agents of change and revitalization that enable healthy forests, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Although we need wildfires, climate change is dramatically increasing their frequency and severity, which can have tragic impacts to community health and safety, infrastructure, forest health and wildlife habitat. In response to this threat of high intensity wildfires, the Climate Action Reserve is excited to be developing the Avoided Wildfire Emissions (AWE) Forecast Methodology through the Climate Forward program, which describes fuel treatment activities that can be implemented to mitigate wildfire behavior and enhance fire resiliency. Join Forestry Manager Marissa Spence in this next episode of Carbon Connection as she breaks down AWE and shares more on the anticipated climate benefits that can be generated by the carbon market and fuel treatment activities through our new methodology expected to be released this Fall.
When it comes to offsets, additionality means above business as usual. But how is additionality established and why is it so important to the carbon market? In this ‘Covering Your Basics’ episode, join Business Development Manager Lauren Wilson as she explains the concept of additionality, ways to test for it, and how it is incorporated into each of Climate Action Reserve’s protocols.
Are you curious to learn more about the driving principles behind the Climate Action Reserve’s programming and offsets? In this ‘Covering Your Basics’ episode, join Business Development Manager Lauren Wilson as she explains the core tenets that guide our program and ensure GHG emission reductions certified by the Reserve are of the highest quality.
Within Climate Action Reserve’s program, protocols are like rulebooks. They provide detailed guidance for how offset projects must be developed and how emissions reductions are counted. In this ‘Covering Your Basics’ episode, join Business Development Manager Lauren Wilson as she reviews what’s outlined in a protocol, how protocols are used in the Reserve’s programming, as well as the protocol development process that is critical to ensuring the program’s integrity.
The term “ozone depleting substances” refers to a large group of chemicals known to destroy the stratospheric ozone layer when released into the atmosphere. ODS were historically used in a wide variety of applications including refrigerants, foam blowing agents, solvents, and fire suppressants. In addition to their potency, ODS exhibit high global warming potentials (GWP), ranging from several hundred to several thousand times that of carbon dioxide. Next up in Carbon Connection, Associate Director of Programs Holly Davison reviews Climate Action Reserve’s U.S. Ozone Depleting Substances Protocol, including how it operates under the State of California’s compliance Cap-and-Trade Program. Tune in as Holly highlights the climate benefits brought to the global community by destroying ODS permanently and the offset credit generation potential from ODS projects under Climate Action Reserve.
Forests cover 31% of land on our planet. As a natural carbon sink, they provide a solution to climate change by sequestering and storing carbon directly from the atmosphere. However, when a forest is disturbed through natural events and human-based activities such as wildfire, disease, agricultural clearing, or logging, they emit carbon instead of absorbing, jeopardizing the critical role they play in climate mitigation. In this episode of Carbon Connection, Associate Director of Nature-Based Solutions Jon Remucal reviews our Climate Forward Reforestation Forecast Methodology and provides guidance on how to facilitate reforestation activities that can accelerate the re-growth of healthy forests. By conducting reforestation activities through the recently updated Reforestation Forecast Methodology, actors can do so in an economically feasible manner that provides upfront financial support for implementing a reforestation project. Actors also have a path for transferring the Climate Forward Credit, Forecasted Mitigation Units (FMUs) to the Reserve’s voluntary offset program under a corresponding forest protocol for issuance of Climate Reserve Tonnes (CRTs).
Landfills are the third-largest source of anthropogenic methane emissions in the United States. Most municipal solid waste is deposited in landfills where bacteria decompose the organic material and produce landfill gas comprised of methane and carbon dioxide. If left unmanaged, this landfill gas is released into the atmosphere, disrupting community commitments to cleaner air and reductions in methane that cause global climate change. In this episode of Carbon Connection, Associate Director of Programs Holly Davison explores one of Climate Action Reserve’s first offset protocols, the US Landfill Protocol, which to date has generated nearly 40 million offset credits. Join Holly to learn more about the process of collecting and destroying methane gas through eligible destruction devices at landfills and criteria for listing landfill offset projects with the Reserve.
Livestock operations in Mexico hold great potential to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. When waste from livestock is left to decompose or degrade naturally, it emits methane into the atmosphere that otherwise could be captured or destroyed. Through the installation of biogas control systems, livestock farmers have an alternative to not only reduce the methane they produce but receive carbon credits for doing so.
We are shaking things up a bit with this podcast episode and are releasing two different versions. If you’re joining here, Business Development Manager Lauren Wilson will give a brief overview of our Mexico Livestock Protocol. In parallel, you can tune in to a special version of this episode conducted in Spanish and hosted by Analytical Associates Abbey Garcia and Aurelia Casarrubias as they review the protocol and discuss how biogas control systems can reduce methane emissions into the atmosphere, thereby improving local air quality and the livelihoods of farming communities.
Las operaciones ganaderas en México tienen un gran potencial para contribuir a la mitigación y adaptación al cambio climático. Cuando los desechos del ganado se dejan descomponer o degradar de forma natural, emiten metano a la atmósfera que de otra forma podría ser capturado o destruido. Mediante la instalación de sistemas de control de biogás, como biodigestores y antorchas, los ganaderos tienen una alternativa no sólo para reducir el metano que producen, sino para recibir créditos de carbono por ello. En este episodio especial de Carbon Connection realizado en español, los asociados analíticos Abbey García y Aurelia Casarrubias repasan el Protocolo Ganadero de México de la Reserva y analizan cómo los sistemas de control de biogás pueden reducir las emisiones de metano a la atmósfera, mejorando así la calidad del aire local y los medios de vida de las comunidades agrícolas.
Mangrove forests are critical to addressing climate change due to the ecosystem services they provide. Mangroves create habitat for fisheries and diverse flora and fauna, act as a natural barrier to storms, and prevent runoff or soil erosion, in addition to their significant carbon sequestration potential. In this inaugural episode of Carbon Connection, we talk to Director of Latin America, Amy Kessler about the Manglares San Crisanto/San Crisanto Mangroves project, the Climate Action Reserve’s first ever mangrove offset project registered through the Mexico Forest Protocol, and the significance it will have on the local ejido community. To learn more about mangrove forests and their importance to ecosystems, please check out the Climate Action Reserve’s infographic.