Natalia Gorina, Emissions Portfolio Manager at Essent Trading, chaired the second day of the Voluntary Carbon Markets USA seminar, in New York on 22-23 January 2009. The seminar focused on the question of how to capitalise on the rapid growth of the North American voluntary carbon market.

The expansion of the voluntary market is set to continue in terms of both supply and demand in the US. A nationwide mandatory carbon reduction scheme is on the cards, which will also influence the development of the voluntary carbon market in the near future.

As such, the Voluntary Carbon Markets USA conference and exhibition was designed to build on the success of the inaugural VCM 2008, by providing insight into the industry one year on. Over the two days, participants examined the risks involved in buying and selling voluntary offsets, as well as looking at the barriers and opportunities available in this sector.

Key questions for consideration included: What effect will a US cap-and-trade scheme have on the voluntary market? Has the voluntary market achieved credibility and transparency through the application of standards, registries and other market mechanisms?

The event also looked at what companies are doing to meet consumers’ demands and how to communicate their carbon neutral activities to their target audience.

For further information on Essent Trading and the voluntary carbon market, please see: www.essenttrading.com/emissions