EcoLogic is a project developer bringing best in class tropical foresty-based offsets for reforestation and avoided deforestation to market. Shaun Paul, Executive Director, is amongst the presenters at Voluntary Carbon Markets, New York.

What do you consider to be the most interesting developments and biggest challenges in the American voluntary carbon market at this time?
I am heartened at the very exciting recognition and growing acceptance of avoided deforestation with possibilities emerging to link into international markets.

What are the challenges facing standardization of the market?
Lack of leadership in Washington.

If regulated emission reductions become mandatory in the US, what does the future hold for the voluntary market?
Voluntary markets today offer important experimentation, learning, and precedent building for tomorrow’s regulated markets. Put another way, regulation will be strongly informed and directed by the successes and failures of today's voluntary markets.

What are the barriers to project developers looking to generate offsets?
The biggest barrier is the challenge in establishing cost-effective certification and verification based upon easy-to-understand standards.

What safeguards are required to ensure sustainable growth?
Voluntary market champions need a way to squash the opportunists and charlatans and reward the earnest.  This might be done with something like a “Voluntary Market Watch” that could take a Consumer Reports approach to rating project developers, wholesalers, aggregators, retailers, etc.

ENDS