Meanwhile, Steel-Forge is trying to lower its environmental impact. While they’ve upgraded their machinery, their industrial process still emits 1,000 tons of CO2 more than their local government allows (a "cap"). To avoid heavy fines, Steel-Forge goes to a marketplace like Carbonmark or a Voluntary Carbon Market . 3. The Exchange: Buying and Selling Steel-Forge buys the 1,000 credits from Eco-Growers.
Eco-Growers spends years planting millions of native trees. As these trees grow, they naturally "inhale" carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. According to Investopedia , a is a permit representing the removal of one metric ton of carbon dioxide. Once an independent auditor verifies that Eco-Growers has successfully sequestered 1,000 tons of CO2, they are issued 1,000 digital carbon credits. 2. The Buyer: Offsetting Emissions
They have now "offset" their excess pollution by funding a project that removed the same amount of CO2 elsewhere.
Once Steel-Forge uses these credits to meet their target, the credits are "." This means they are taken out of circulation so they can't be sold again, ensuring that the environmental benefit isn't counted twice.
To understand how buying and selling carbon credits works, imagine two very different businesses: , a massive reforestation project in the Amazon, and Steel-Forge , a heavy industrial plant in Europe. 1. The Producer: Creating a Credit
What are carbon markets and how do they work? | UNDP Climate Promise