Seize the business opportunities in the budding US carbon market

Véronique Bugnion, Managing Director, Point Carbon

What do you and your organization do in the Carbon Markets sector?

Point Carbon is the primary market intelligence provider to the carbon markets. This includes news, research, data collection and advisory services.

What do you consider to be the most interesting developments and biggest challenges in the North American carbon market at this time?

The interplay between the regional markets, often at a more advanced stage of development, and the chance that a federal market will emerge in the near future.

If regulated emission reductions become mandatory in the US, who stands to be most affected by this, and what would you recommend to anyone worried about impending legislation ?

The entire economy would be affected by a mandatory carbon cap-and-trade system in the US, but not necessarily in a harmful way. New markets offer as many opportunities as they offer challenges; a solid understanding of the proposed legislation is at the stage the key to seeing where these opportunities might be.

How do you see the North American Carbon Market looking in 5 years’ time?

Big.

What do you see as key to building a truly global carbon market?

Simple policies and simple market design, which can be adapted over time as the climate challenge becomes better defined.