An Introduction to Carbon Markets

This book provides a comprehensive overview of carbon markets, including the voluntary carbon markets and compliance carbon markets from a regional perspective (Africa) yet with global application. The book offers a unique insight into the current state of the art in carbon markets in Africa, including the challenges and practical solutions, with key examples and illustrations to inform and accelerate access for countries lagging behind in order to seize the full potential of opportunities in these growing markets. This approach strives to be a unique pathway to achieve interlinked goals of climate action and sustainable development, notably through the lens of a country’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs). This book highlights the unique positioning of Africa in this emerging market as one of the largest climate mitigation potentials in the world and emphasizes the need for structural transformation for Africa to take full advantage of this potential for concrete climate and development outcomes. It is intended for a variety of stakeholders, including (i) policymakers seeking to design comprehensive carbon market policy; (ii) private sector actors interested in net-zero or carbon-neutral investing through carbon markets; (iii) academia for training, capacity-building, and research on carbon markets; and (iv) civil society and professionals for knowledge development and growth.