In The Spotlight

Environmental markets have been in the news a great deal in recent weeks. Major publications around the world are asking just what it means to be green in the 21st Century. Are carbon offsets really a viable way to neutralize an individual’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions? Will international cap-and-trade markets ever operate under limits strict enough to make a difference to global warming? Are biofuels a boon or bane in the fight against climate change? Can conservation easement tax credits survive the scrutiny of the IRS? Should statewide mitigation programs be encouraged? These are just a few of the questions that have been raised in newspapers, magazines and radio programs during the past month. Here at the Ecosystem Marketplace, we believe that all the attention provides a real opportunity to strengthen market-based approaches to the environment by answering the tough questions that have answers, and by tweaking or scrapping approaches that do not stand up under the magnifying glass. In this vein, we take a close look in this issue at the tricky question of biofuels and at the controversy over tradable tax credits. We also report back on the opinions of our readers concerning North Carolina’s Ecosystem Enhancement Program.

Interesting developments are also taking shape outside of the spotlight, where new players are demonstrating an interest in environmental markets. Find out, for instance, why a private equity firm with $1.5 billion under management has decided to invest in a mitigation banking company in the United States. Trace Peter Stein’s career in the profile section to learn why Lyme Timber has decided to put money on the line protecting 276,000 acres of land in the Adirondacks. And discover why Australian energy giant Origin Energy is ramping up the voluntary carbon market in the land down under. Whether you are interested in big picture policy questions or on the ground case studies, read on for the latest news on ecosystem markets. And if you're in DC, join us for what promises to be an exciting discussion on the emerging markets for water quality, in the US and around the world. Download the invite now »

— The Ecosystem Marketplace Team

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