This Week in Carbon Unveiling the Future: Carbon Markets, Durable Removals, and Climate Policy Shifts - Margaret Morales
Aug 11, 2025
Margaret Morales, Director of Carbon at Trellis Group, guides corporate sustainability efforts in the carbon market, while Matt Udberg, Partner at Valterra, offers insights on market trends. They discuss the unprecedented rise in corporate buyers, exemplified by Microsoft’s massive carbon removal investment. Challenges in financing early-stage carbon projects are addressed alongside the critical role of policy regulations. The importance of quality in carbon credits is emphasized, highlighting a shift towards durable removals over traditional methods.
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From Think Tank To Project Developer
- Margaret Morales moved from a think tank to nature-based project development and then to Trellis Group to bridge research and practice.
- She now advises corporate sustainability teams and helps buyers enter the carbon market.
Market Shifting Toward End Buyers
- Trading houses once dominated but corporate end buyers are increasingly driving meaningful demand in the voluntary carbon market.
- Margaret Morales emphasizes that without end buyers the market cannot function or scale.
Ratings Speed Capital Deployment
- Ratings agencies create standardization that can speed due diligence and move capital faster into projects.
- Margaret Morales expects ratings to make project vetting quicker and more consistent over time.