Renewable Energy Increases Share of Voluntary Carbon Market
According to a report by Forest Trends' Ecosystem Marketplace, wind projects gained in prominence for purchasers of carbon offsets in 2011. Roughly 45% of all 2011 transacted carbon offsets came from renewable energy projects, and approximately two-thirds of those projects were wind. In 2010, approximately 20% of all offsets came from renewable projects, with wind representing 53% of that amount.
Voluntary purchases of carbon offsets amounted to $576 million in 2011, second only to 2008's record $776 million. The total offset amount in 2011 included a significant increase in offset-generating projects originating in the U.S. (35% of total offsets in 2010 and 43% in 2011), though total carbon offset volumes were down 28% to 95 metric tons CO2e in voluntary markets in 2011.
Additional Information - State of the Voluntary Carbon Markets 2012
Additional Information - Back to the Future: State of the Voluntary Carbon Markets 2011
Voluntary purchases of carbon offsets amounted to $576 million in 2011, second only to 2008's record $776 million. The total offset amount in 2011 included a significant increase in offset-generating projects originating in the U.S. (35% of total offsets in 2010 and 43% in 2011), though total carbon offset volumes were down 28% to 95 metric tons CO2e in voluntary markets in 2011.
Additional Information - State of the Voluntary Carbon Markets 2012
Additional Information - Back to the Future: State of the Voluntary Carbon Markets 2011