Are Carbon Markets Really Markets? A conversation with three carbon trading practitioners

​Carbon markets have been proposed as part of the solution to mitigate climate change for some time now.  The commoditisation of carbon removal (or emission reduction) provides a familiar concept to the world’s financiers, placing the value on the reduction of a negative externality, something which is also attractive to the need to attract capital to important climate mitigation activities.

​However, in recent years voluntary carbon markets have come under increased scrutiny, partially from a concern about their effectiveness, partially about transparency, and partially about impact on local communities.

​Finally, there is a wider question, are they really markets at all or are they simply a marketing exercise for the corporate world?  Through discussions with four practitioners of this fast-changing space we will seek to try to understand the current state, what the issues are, and where they are heading.

​Panellists:

• ​Walid Jalkh Director, Commercial at Varaha

• ​Alain Panhard Head of Nature Based Solutions (NBS) Projects at aDryada

• ​Cedric Rimaud Independent Consultant on Green Finance, ex-Managing Director - Sustainability Advisory at SMBC Group

​Moderated by Anthony Belcher Board Member, London Business School Alumni Sustainability Club

​Bring your own questions, skepticism included! Whether you work in finance, climate, policy, or are simply curious about where carbon trading is going, you'll leave with a clearer sense of what these markets can and can't do. The session takes place online, so you can join from wherever you are.