Markets for Environmental Services G Number 10 The voluntary carbon offsets market An analysis of market characteristics and opportunities for sustainable development Elizabeth Harris The voluntary carbon offsets market An analysis of market characteristics and opportunities for sustainable development Elizabeth Harris 2007 International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) IIED is an independent, non-profit research institute working in the field of sustainable development. IIED aims to provide expertise and leadership in researching and achieving sustainable development at local, national, regional, and global levels. In alliance with others we seek to help shape a future that ends global poverty and delivers and sustains efficient and equitable management of the world’s natural resources. Environmental Economics Programme The Environmental Economics Programme (EEP), which forms part of IIED’s Sustainable Markets Group, seeks to develop and promote the application of economics to environmental issues in developing countries. This is achieved through research and policy analysis on the role of the environment and natural resources in economic development and poverty alleviation. Forestry and Land Use Programme The Forestry and Land Use (FLU) Programme, which forms part of IIED’s Natural Resources Group, has the goal of improving people’s livelihoods from forest and land use on the basis of equity, efficiency, and sustainability, focusing on key arenas where the decision-making that matters for better forestry and land use actually takes place. The author Elizabeth Harris is UK Manager for Pioneer Carbon, the carbon asset developer for Climate Care. She can be contacted at: Climate Care 115 Magdalen Road Oxford, OX4 1RQ. Email:
[email protected] Acknowledgements The author would like to thank Dr Jon Knight for his valuable advice throughout the project and Dr Saleemul Huq for providing inspiration and guidance.