The American carbon market occupies a unique position. Whilst there is a lot of activity at regional and state level, there is as of yet no federal legislation providing a clear, comprehensive framework. However as the presidential election cycle gathers pace throughout 2008, it is becoming increasingly apparent that a domestic climate plan involving a carbon market will come into force with the new president.

As the national debate on carbon management continues to grow, so does the range of challenges and opportunities that abound this market. Now in its second year, Carbon Markets USA will once again provide an excellent meeting point for new market entrants and key market players, as they examine and explore the latest market developments and ways to further accelerate market growth.

The 2007 inaugural Carbon Markets USA welcomed over 170 executives from across the US, UK, Europe and Latin America and featured high-level debate, discussion and analysis from a selection of leading players in government, industry and key associations involved in the region’s growing carbon market. This year’s event will continue to focus on in depth discussion and interactivity in order to get to the heart of the issues affecting the market.

• Discover the latest developments in the future $1 trillion North American Carbon Markets
• Find out what bills are currently in Congress and how they will impact a federal policy
• Understand the pros and cons of the different regional schemes
• Learn how to develop projects that will be accepted by the mandatory and voluntary markets
• Hear what kinds of projects are being funded through the voluntary market
• Question market experts on carbon trading, carbon offsetting, carbon capture & storage, agriculture & forestry and voluntary carbon markets
• Benefit from interactive panel discussions and get your key questions answered
• Carbon Markets USA will build on the success of last year's San Francisco event

Here’s who you’ll meet at Carbon Markets USA 2008:

• Governmental Representatives
• Policy & Advisory Bodies
• International Project Developers
• Offset Providers
• Utility Representatives
• Financiers & Investors
• Carbon Traders & Brokers
• Renewable Energy Experts
• Equipment & Technology Solution Providers
• Engineering Consultants
• Press
• Associations
• Universities, Research & Non Profit Organizations

Meet key players in the US Carbon markets, here are just some of the companies who attended in 2007:

Agcert, American Ethanol, Baker & McKenzie, Bio Finance Corp, Biogas Technology, Blue Source, Calfornia Dept of Forestry, California Energy Commission, Camco, Chevron, City of Palo Alto, Credut Suisse, Deloitte & Touche, Deutsche Bank, Direct Energy, EcoSecurities, Energy & Power Solutions, Evolution Markets, FC Stone, First Environment, State of Oregon, IETA, JP Morgan, MGM, MN Corn Growers, Natural Lighting Co, Oregon Carbon Allocation Task Force, Pacific Gas & Electric Company

08.15 Registration, Welcome Breakfast & Exhibition Visit

08.50 Chair’s Opening Remarks

Introduction to the US Carbon Market & Global Carbon Market Update

• International context & developments
• How is Phase II of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme shaping up?
• New international agreements for 2012
• Is the carbon market a driver for economic growth?

09.00 Keynote Address
Michael Gibbs, Assistant Secretary for Regional Climate Initiatives, California Energy Commission

09.20 The Role of the Carbon Market in the Fight against Climate Change
Eric Washburn, Legislative Counsel, Bipartisan Policy Center

09.40 Recent  Developments and Trends
Marco Monroy, President, MGM International

10.00 Interactive Discussion Session with Speakers

10.10 Update on Kyoto Compliance and the Status of CDM & JI
Ms. Gyungae Ha, Programme Officer, Sustainable Development Mechanisms Programme, UNFCCC

10.30 Update from Canada
Linda Danquah, Head, Trading Policy, Environment Canada

10.50 US Carbon Market Update

• Update on regional and state activities
• How do all theses initiatives piece together? Are they all part of the same puzzle?
• Would all states have to agree to the same requirements?
• Impact of government legislation and policy in the growing market

Thomas D. Peterson, Executive Director, The Center for Climate Strategies*
Derek Murrow, Director, Policy Analysis, Environment Northeast
Gary Gero, President, California Climate Action Registry
Aimee Barnes, Manager, Regulatory Affairs, EcoSecurities

11.20 Networking Refreshment Break & Exhibition Visit

12.00 What should a US Compliance Market Look Like?

• Current bills in Congress and their potential impact on a US federal policy
• Key success factors in a compliance market
• What are the essential elements for effective policy and regulation?
• The potential of an American cap and trade system
• What is the best way to distribute allowances?
• Would auctioning bring transparency needed in the market?

David Hunter, Director, US Policy, International Emissions Trading Association*
Véronique Bugnion, Managing Director, Point Carbon
Lisa Jacobson, Executive Director, Business Council for Sustainable Energy
Christopher Sherry, Research Scientist, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Andre de Fontaine, Markets & Business Strategy Fellow, Pew Center on Global Climate Change

13.00 Networking Lunch Break & Exhibition Visit

14.15 Update on US Carbon Investment

• What is the effect of the global credit crisis on carbon finance?
• Drivers for investment in the carbon market
• Where do opportunities for investors lie?
• What are the financial challenges that developers should be ready to address?
• What is the role of carbon funds in supporting the project market?
• How will federal carbon regulation affect project finance?
• How do investors assess projects and project risk?
• Strategies for investing in domestic and international carbon markets

Alexander Rau, Principal, Climate Wedge
Byron Baldwin, End Investor Business Development, Deutsche Boerse / Eurex AG

14.55 Spotlight on International Projects

• A showcase of international emission reduction projects, highlighting opportunities for investment and areas of project development

Ashley King, Co-Director, Methane to Markets

15.35 Interactive Discussion Session with Speakers

15.45 Networking Refreshment Break & Exhibition Visit

16.30 Current Trends in Carbon Trading and Potential Future Market Developments

• Carbon pricing: factors affecting the price of carbon credits
• How are risk and price affected by the variety of offsets on offer?
• Evolution of new trading platforms
• How do uncertainties in policy and legislation affect price?
• How will RGGI affect carbon trading in 2009?
• What are the pros and cons of the different regional schemes?
• Quality versus price
• Exchanges: creating a global trading market

Milo Sjardin, Head, North America, New Carbon Finance
Nathan Clark, Director- Emission Offsets, Chicago Climate Exchange
Gary Guzy, General Counsel, APX
Alexia Kelly, Policy Program Manager, The Climate Trust

17.45 Close of Day One & Networking Drinks

08.30 Registration, Welcome Breakfast & Exhibition Visit

09.00 Chair’s Opening Remarks
Scott Deatherage, Partner, Thompson & Knight

09.10 Improving and Expanding the Scope of Market-based Mechanisms

• Emerging opportunities in the carbon project market
• Are they a worthwhile and effective tool?
• Are they a means of reducing the impact of regulations on industry?
• What project opportunities will be supported by the RGGI, California, and Western Climate Initiative?
• Developing offset projects in new areas
• How do you ensure environmental integrity and credibility?
• How do you secure early funding?

Cameron Brooks, President, Tolerable Planet Enterprises
Josh Green, Chief Executive Officer, Verdeo Group
Shaun Paul, Executive Director, EcoLogic Development Fund
Steve Fine, Vice President, ICF International

10.05 Managing Project Risk

• Legal implications concerning project development
• What barriers exist to generating offsets?
• How do you create projects that will be accepted by the mandatory and voluntary markets?
• How do you set up agreements for more long-term projects which will run beyond 2012?

Thomas J. Timbario, Vice President, Alliance Technical Services, Inc
Lindene Patton, Chief Climate Product Officer, Zurich Financial Services
Marc Goodman, Principal Regulatory Analyst, Alliance Technical Services, Inc.
Claudia O'Brien, Partner, Latham & Watkins

11.00 Networking Refreshment Break & Exhibition Visit

11.35 Overview of the Current Voluntary Market

• Update on the current status of the voluntary market in USA
• What efforts are being made to standardize the market?
• How do these standards work when applying them to North America?
• How receptive are the state registries to offset projects?

Kate Hamilton, Carbon Project Manager, Ecosystem Marketplace

11.55 The Importance of Standards in the Voluntary Market
Thomas Classen, Manager Voluntary Carbon Market, TÜV SÜD

12.15 A Buyer’s Perspective on the Voluntary Offset Market

• Quality and transparency: how do you ensure consumer confidence?
• What kinds of projects are being funded through the voluntary market?
• Tapping into the buyer’s market: matching your project with a buyer’s objectives
• Examining the motivation behind buyer’s needs
• How does a buyer make sense of the tools/market actors available for assembling a cogent portfolio? 
• Getting U.S. buyers comfortable with a diversified international portfolio

Yvan Champagne, Managing Director, Carbon Reduction Fund
Lars Kvale, Green-e Climate Manager, Center for Resource Solutions
Caitlin Sparks, Director, United States Market, The Gold Standard Foundation
Robert Oden, Senior Commercialisation Manager, EcoSecurities

12.50 Networking Lunch Break & Exhibition Visit

14.05 Forestry and the Carbon Market

• How can the carbon market contribute to sustainable forestry and farming?
• Addressing deforestation, sustainability and conservation
• What initiatives are in place to prevent deforestation?
• What kind of money is involved in this market?
• Is there such a thing as sustainable logging?
• How can carbon finance be used to protect forests and farmland?
• To what extent will forestry play a role in the US carbon market?

Leslie L. Durschinger, Principal, Terra Global Capital
Steve Brink, Vice President, California Forestry Association
Joanna Durbin, Director, Climate, Community & Biodiversity Alliance

14.55 The Carbon Market and Energy-intensive Industries

• Carbon disclosure: where to begin?
• Carbon trading as a powerful tool
• Auction versus allocation
• Is CCS a commercially viable tool to help with emission reduction?

Oliver Bussler, Manager, Commercial Environment, EPCOR Utilities Inc
Don Wharton, Vice President for Sustainable Development, Transalta
Greg San Martin, Climate Protection Program Manager, Pacific Gas & Electric Co

15.45 Networking Refreshment Break & Exhibition Visit

2012 Is the first year of AB32 and the last year of the first Kyoto commitment period: where will we be?

16.20 Potential for a Global Carbon Market

• Building long-term confidence in the carbon markets
• To what extent should the American carbon market be open to global markets?
• Is the goal to halve world greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 realistic?
• What will happen to the voluntary market once there’s a compliance market?

Dr. Martin Bergfelder, Project Manager, International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP)
Joseph E. Aldy, Fellow, Resources for the Future & Co-Director, Harvard Project on International Climate Agreements
Björn D. Fischer, Managing Director, First Climate LLC
William Whitesell, Director, Policy Research, Center for Clean Air Policy

17.00 The Role of Energy Efficiency and Renewables in Emission Reduction Strategies

• The importance of Energy Efficiency in achieving goals

Steven Smith, Executive Director, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

17.30 Chair’s Closing Remarks & Close of Conference

Now in its 2nd year, Carbon Markets USA offers an integrated solution of brand positioning, business development and face-to-face networking opportunities with senior decision makers.

Connecting you with the right people
With a proven track record of delivering high calibre project developers, Carbon Markets USA provides the perfect environment for you to do business with project developers from across the country under one roof.

First class business opportunities
Our sponsorship and exhibition packages are designed to help you meet your business objectives. If you are looking to win prospective clients, strengthen existing relationships or enhance your company profile, we will help you do so in a cost effective manner.

Contact Santosh Sarma for further details
Tel: 00971 4 214 9582 or 0044 207 801 6333
Email:

Download Sponsorship Brochure

EcoSecurities is one of the world s leading companies in the business of originating, developing and trading carbon credits. The last 10 years has seen EcoSecurities involved in the development of many of the global carbon market s most important milestones, including developing the world s first Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project to be registered under the Kyoto Protocol, and the first to be issued with carbon credits. Today, the company is working on 402 projects in 36 countries using 18 different technologies, with the potential to generate more than 142 million carbon credits. In 2006, EcoSecurities was voted Best CDM/JI Project Developer by both Point Carbon and Environmental Finance magazine.

First Climate combines the competence and expertise in project and methodology development from Factor AG and the financial savviness in carbon credit commercialization and the climate neutral expertise of 3C. As a vertically integrated player covering the entire carbon credit value chain, First Climate is among the leading companies in the dynamic carbon markets.

MGM International is a project development, investment and comercialization firm whose objectives are the identification, design, negotiation, execution and monitoring of CDM projects that contribute to reducing anthropogenic GHG emissions. Our company has a multidisciplinary staff based in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, India, Japan, Mexico and the United States, that brings togheter the often unusual combination of top academic credentials and years of practical experience that maake projects happen. MGM has wide experience in successfully developing methane and other greenhouse gases CDM projects worldwide.

TÜV SÜD is an internationally leading technical service organisation with over 13.000 employees and present at more than 600 locations worldwide. Under the UNFCCC TÜV SÜD is the only DOE accredited for all scopes of the CDM. Having realised over 800 project validations, TÜV SÜD was elected „best verifier of climate change projects“ by "Environmental Finance“.

Supporting sponsor:

APX is the leading infrastructure provider for environmental markets in renewable energy and greenhouse gases including carbon commodities. The company is the trusted system of choice for every major renewable energy market in North America and greenhouse gas markets worldwide including carbon offset credits and emission allowances. For more information visit www.apx.com or call +1.408.517.2100.

Endorsed by:

The Carbon Markets and Investors Association (CMIA), formed in August 2008 by the merger of The Carbon Markets Association (CMA) and INCIS, is an international trade association representing service providers to the global carbon market.  The CMIA was formed to represent businesses at the cutting edge of the services sector working to reduce carbon emissions through the market mechanisms of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol.

WADE works to accelerate the worldwide development of high efficiency cogeneration, onsite power and decentralized renewable energy systems that deliver substantial economic and environmental benefits. In an effort to raise the profile of cogeneration as a climate change mitigation strategy in the 1997 UNFCCC climate change negotiations the International Cogeneration Alliance was founded. In 2002 the group changed its name to WADE and broadened its scope to include all manner of DE technologies. http://www.localpower.org/

The International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA) is a not for profit alliance of leading carbon reduction and offset providers. It provides leadership and a unified voice advocating for rigorous industry standards.  ICROA members adhere to the ICROA Code of Best Practice. This requires ICROA members to measure footprints according to accepted international standards and to implement a responsible “reduce and offset” approach to internal and external greenhouse gas reductions. ICROA members support the use of credible offsets verified under leading compliance and voluntary standards; CDM/JI, Voluntary Carbon Standard and Gold Standard. ICROA members submit annual reports to demonstrate compliance with the ICROA Code of Best Practice.  ICROA also plays an active role in engaging with Governments and NGOS on voluntary carbon market issues.

For a full list of members visit http://www.icroa.org/