Rene Velasquez, Managing Partner at Valitera, shares his extensive expertise in carbon markets. He discusses the contrasting states of compliance and voluntary markets, detailing ongoing challenges and fresh opportunities. Rene highlights the crucial need for integrity in carbon finance and the impact of recent corporate withdrawals. The conversation also dives into the intersection of AI and climate action, emphasizing both its potential and concerns. He encourages young innovators to engage passionately in developing climate solutions for a sustainable future.
The transition in carbon markets highlights the challenges and opportunities of compliance versus voluntary markets amidst evolving integrity measures.
Encouraging young professionals to focus on their passions in tackling climate issues is crucial for the future development of carbon markets.
Deep dives
The Current State of Carbon Markets
Carbon markets are currently experiencing a transitional phase marked by significant growth, especially within compliance markets, which now cover approximately a quarter of the world's GDP. This expansion is driven by initiatives such as Article 6, which facilitates the distribution of carbon pricing signals across various sectors. In contrast, voluntary carbon markets have faced turbulence, lacking resilience and clear demand signals. The ongoing reckoning regarding integrity in voluntary markets, although challenging, is leading to a more robust framework for scaling carbon finance.
Integrity and Demand in Voluntary Carbon Markets
The recent reckoning in voluntary carbon markets has highlighted issues such as over-crediting and the need for improved integrity measures, driven by initiatives like the Voluntary Carbon Market Integrity Initiative. As the market matures, there is an increasing focus on establishing clear demand signals, which are essential for effective participation from companies. The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTI) plays a critical role in encouraging businesses to engage in carbon markets, although its recent challenges, including a shift in funding, could impact broader participation. Ultimately, fostering high-integrity voluntary carbon markets is essential for driving sustainability efforts and meeting climate goals.
Challenges in Carbon Finance and Project Development
Access to financing for carbon reduction and removal projects has become increasingly difficult, particularly for smaller project developers, who struggle to secure funding at reasonable costs due to high risk perceptions by investors. Institutional investors typically look for substantial investment sizes, which leaves smaller projects in a challenging position. This disconnect creates a missing middle in carbon financing, where smaller developers cannot attract necessary capital while larger investors seek larger opportunities. However, there are emerging catalysts, such as successful fundraising initiatives for scalable projects, that may signal growing interest in this space.
Advice for Future Climate Professionals
Young individuals aspiring to enter climate-related careers should focus on solving problems they are passionate about, which will lead to meaningful and rewarding career paths. To succeed, it is vital to prioritize excellence in problem-solving over financial gain, as investment and opportunities will naturally follow. The continued growth and evolution of carbon markets represent a call for fresh ideas and participation from the next generation. Encouraging new talent to engage in the energy transition and carbon market development will be critical to addressing the climate challenges of the future.
We continue Carbon Frontiers 2025 this week with Rene Velasquez, Managing Partner at Valitera. David Greely sits down with Rene to discuss the ‘tale of two cities’ state of the carbon markets – and the challenges and opportunities in getting carbon finance flowing.
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