What are carbon credits? The benefits of carbon credits for businesses

“Carbon credits” is not a widely known concept. However, did you know that it is a way to measure, monitor, and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated by an organization, business, or individual during production and consumption? Specifically, the use of carbon credits not only helps protect the environment but can also bring business benefits and promote sustainability in a company’s production activities.

As a result, businesses are encouraged to reduce the amount of emissions generated by their business operations to maintain them within limits. However, to implement carbon credits, we need to consider various factors and how and where to start?

Today, VREnergy will help you find the answers.

In this content, we will explain in detail what the concept of carbon credits is, all the important information about carbon credits, and how to build carbon credits. From there, your business can plan for suitable implementation based on its specific business activities.

So let’s get started right away!

“Carbon credits,” also known as “greenhouse gas credits” or “emission credits,” are a way to measure, monitor, and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that an organization, business, or individual generates during production and consumption.

These credits are understood as a type of permit that allows the holder to emit carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.

For example, each carbon credit is typically equivalent to 1 ton of CO2 (allowing the emission of one ton of carbon dioxide or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases like CH4 or NO2).

Benefits of carbon credits

On a global scale, there are currently 35 regions and 46 countries that have implemented or planned to implement carbon pricing mechanisms. The goal is to control 12 billion tons of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to 22.3% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions.

The benefits of carbon credits are numerous, and they extend beyond just reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Using carbon credits can be a vital part of an organization’s environmental protection strategy and can create value for both organizations and businesses. Here are some key benefits:

1. Compliance with Regulations and Policies: One of the primary benefits of carbon credits is ensuring compliance with regulations and policies related to greenhouse gas emissions. Many countries and regions have set emission reduction targets and requirements, and carbon credits can be used to ensure organizations adhere to these regulations.
2. Building a Green Image: Using carbon credits can enhance the image of an organization or business as environmentally responsible. It demonstrates their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, which can build trust among customers, partners, and investors.
3. Cost Reduction and Increased Efficiency: Focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions often goes hand in hand with optimizing energy use and improving production efficiency. This can lead to reduced operating costs and long-term financial benefits for organizations.
4. New Business Opportunities: Using carbon credits can open up new business opportunities in areas such as renewable energy, green technology, and emission reduction projects. Organizations can leverage these emerging markets to expand their business activities.
5. Communication and Marketing: Carbon credits can be used in communication and marketing campaigns to raise awareness of products and services with positive environmental impacts. This can attract the attention of environmentally conscious customers.
6. Participation in the Carbon Credit Market: Organizations can participate in the carbon credit market to buy or sell carbon credits. This offers opportunities to profit from emission reduction efforts or invest in emission reduction projects.
7. Demonstrating Environmental Responsibility: Using carbon credits helps organizations demonstrate their environmental responsibility and earn trust and respect from the community and society at large.

Overall, carbon credits are a valuable tool for organizations and businesses to reduce their environmental footprint, meet regulatory requirements, and contribute to a more sustainable future while also benefiting financially and in terms of their reputation.

In addition, carbon credits are also prioritized in trade with several countries. This is because many countries prioritize economic development alongside environmental protection, making climate change and emission reduction one of their top priorities in their development policies and plans. Therefore, when businesses achieve carbon credits, they are given preferential treatment in trade with some countries as follows:

Europe: The European Union has implemented a large Emission Trading System (ETS) that allows companies and organizations to participate in the carbon market and trade carbon credits. Many European countries, such as Germany, France, and Sweden, have made climate change a top priority in their efforts to reduce emissions.

China: China, one of the world’s largest emitters, has established a national carbon market and taken measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This reflects a significant emphasis on carbon credits.

United States: Many states and cities in the United States have implemented carbon programs and markets to achieve emission reduction goals. Additionally, there is growing federal government interest in promoting climate-related measures.

Japan: Japan has promoted emission reduction measures and used carbon credits to contribute to global climate change efforts.

Australia: Australia has implemented a range of climate-related measures and promoted the use of carbon credits in key industries such as energy and agriculture.

Climate change and emission reduction are increasingly recognized as important international issues, drawing interest from numerous countries worldwide. Therefore, this list will soon be updated to include many more countries.

Carbon Credit Market

The carbon market came into existence as a result of the United Nations’ Kyoto Protocol on climate change, which was adopted in 1997. Under the legal framework of the Kyoto Protocol, countries have the right to buy or sell emission reduction units (carbon credits) if they have surpluses or deficits in meeting their emission reduction commitments. As a result, a new global market emerged, with these credits representing greenhouse gas emissions reductions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), equivalent to other greenhouse gases. Transactions in this market are commonly referred to as carbon trading or carbon exchange, creating the carbon credit market.

When it comes to the carbon market, there are two main types to consider: regulated markets and voluntary markets.

These two types of markets have their own characteristics, and the choice of market depends on specific factors.

Regulated markets are established and managed by regional emissions limit regulations. In this type of market, each organization operating under an emissions trading program is allocated a specific number of carbon credits each year based on their scale and operational performance. Organizations can generate fewer emissions than the credits allocated to them and have surplus carbon credits. Conversely, organizations generating more emissions than the credits they receive need to purchase carbon credits to offset their surplus emissions.

On the other hand, voluntary markets are where businesses and individuals purchase carbon offsets at their discretion to compensate for their carbon emissions. This market is not mandatory and allows individuals and organizations to choose to buy carbon credits based on their desire to support environmental conservation.

Organizations typically use the regulated market to maintain or comply with their emissions limits, while the voluntary market often targets environmentally conscious individuals and organizations looking to offset their emissions.

Both of these markets play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to environmental conservation.

Carbon Credit Exchange

A carbon credit exchange is where organizations and individuals participate in the carbon market to buy, sell, or trade carbon credits, also known as greenhouse gas credits.

This exchange plays a significant role in managing and financing greenhouse gas emissions reduction activities, contributing to climate change mitigation goals and environmental conservation.

Below are some famous carbon credit trading platforms worldwide:

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Carbon Credit Exchange: UNFCCC is the international organization responsible for managing the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the carbon credit market. CDM carbon credits are traded on the UNFCCC exchange and are used to offset emissions in developing countries.

European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) Carbon Credit Exchange: EU ETS is the world’s largest carbon market system, applicable to European Union (EU) member countries. Organizations and companies participate in this exchange to trade Emission Allowances (EUAs) and Clean Development Mechanism (CERs) carbon credits.

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE): ICE is one of the world’s leading exchanges and also operates in the carbon credit market. It provides products such as EUA carbon credits and carbon futures contracts.

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME): CME is another major exchange involved in the carbon credit market. They offer carbon futures contracts and other financial instruments related to carbon.

Swiss Carbon Exchange (SCX): SCX is an independent carbon credit exchange established in Switzerland. It focuses on trading standard Clean Development Mechanism carbon credits and Swiss national standard carbon credits.

Vietnam Carbon Credit Exchange: According to Decree 06/2022/NĐ-CP dated January 10, 2022, regulating greenhouse gas emissions reduction and ozone protection, Vietnam has scheduled specific plans for the development and implementation of the domestic carbon credit market. This decree outlines the details of some BVMT (carbon market) regulations, including Article 91 on greenhouse gas emissions reduction, Article 92 on ozone protection, and Article 139 on the organization and development of the carbon market.

*Vietnam has set a specific schedule for the development and implementation of the domestic carbon market. This was reflected in Decree 06/2022/NĐ-CP issued by the government on January 7, 2022. This decree clearly defines the stages of pilot implementation and the operation of the carbon market mechanism.

*In the period until the end of 2027, Vietnam will carry out important activities, including the establishment of carbon credit management regulations, the implementation of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon credit quota exchange activities, and the development of carbon credit exchange market operation regulations. Additionally, carbon credit exchange and offset mechanisms will be tested in potential areas, along with guidance on their implementation, both domestically and internationally, ensuring compliance with legal regulations and international conventions of which Vietnam is a member.

*From 2025, Vietnam will start the pilot operation of the carbon credit exchange. This period will also mark an enhancement of capacity and awareness regarding the development of the domestic carbon market.

*From 2028, Vietnam will officially operate the carbon credit exchange and establish regulations for connecting and trading carbon credits with regional and global carbon markets. This demonstrates Vietnam’s commitment to participating in the international carbon market and contributing to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Creating Carbon Credits

There are various types of carbon credit projects capable of generating and trading carbon credits by minimizing, capturing, and storing greenhouse gas emissions in the environment. Below are some common carbon offset project types:

Renewable Energy Projects: These projects involve the use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower. They generate clean energy and reduce emissions from traditional energy sources.

Energy Efficiency Improvements: These projects focus on reducing energy demand by improving energy efficiency in buildings, infrastructure, and production processes. This may include equipment and system upgrades to save energy.

Carbon and Methane Recovery: These projects involve removing greenhouse gas emissions from the environment. Methane, which is over 20 times more harmful to the environment than CO2, can be burned to produce CO2, thus reducing net emissions.

Land Use and Reforestation: These projects involve land use and forest management to sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Plants perform photosynthesis, converting CO2 into organic matter, and carbon-rich soil can enhance soil quality and crop productivity.

These carbon credit projects not only help reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also improve the environment and sustainability. They play a crucial role in achieving climate change mitigation goals and protecting the environment.

Frequently Asked Questions?

Why do businesses need to invest in environmental protection?

For these reasons, investing in environmental protection is not only a moral obligation but also a smart strategy to ensure the survival and growth of businesses in the future.

For example, building a flexible supply chain and minimizing financial risks, as well as establishing a consumer-friendly corporate image, opens up more opportunities and long-term growth incentives.

How does carbon credit work?

Carbon credits represent measurable and verified emissions reductions achieved through certified climate action projects. These projects mitigate, remove, or avoid greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

However, they also bring many other positive benefits, such as empowering communities, protecting ecosystems, restoring forests, or reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

How do businesses offset carbon emissions?

There are several ways that businesses can offset their carbon emissions. Below are some common methods often considered as offset projects:

1. Investing in solar energy
2. Reducing energy usage
3. Utilizing biofuels
4. Promoting reforestation

To assess and quantify the carbon offset through these projects, monitoring emissions and measuring reductions are carried out through survey and technical inspection processes, requiring professionalism and patience, even for experienced experts.

Industries and Sectors That May Require Carbon Certifications

Carbon certifications are not industry-specific. Instead, the requirements for carbon certifications typically depend on the regulations of individual countries, regions, or organizations, as well as specific projects. Below are some examples of industries and sectors that may require carbon certifications:

1. Energy and Power: Power generation companies, especially those using high greenhouse gas sources like coal-fired and oil-fired power plants, as well as renewable energy projects, may require carbon certifications to monitor and report their emissions and implement emission reduction measures.
2. Industrial Sector: Heavy industries such as steel production, cement manufacturing, and chemical industries may also need carbon certifications if they have significant emissions.
3. Transportation: Shipping, aviation companies, and large transportation firms may require carbon certifications to measure and manage the climate impact of their operations.
4. Agriculture and Forestry: Projects related to forest management, land use, and sustainable agriculture can be assessed and certified for carbon credits.
5. Construction and Real Estate: Green construction projects and high-energy-performance buildings can achieve carbon certifications through emission reduction measures.
6. Finance and Investment: Financial organizations and investment funds may pursue carbon certifications to ensure that the projects they invest in adhere to environmental standards and reduce emissions.
7. Clean Development and Emission Reduction Projects: Clean development projects such as renewable energy initiatives, forest management, waste management, and other green projects often require carbon certifications to access carbon markets and secure funding for their activities.

Please note that specific requirements for carbon certifications can vary by country and region and may change over time due to alterations in environmental laws and regulations.