An illustrated infographic showing how the carbon market works. At its heart, the carbon market is about the relationship between the credit buyer and the project developer, also known as the credit supplier. But in reality, the carbon credit market has more players and layers than we think. The project developers create the projects and calculate how much credits are to be sold, then they let a third-party auditor in to check. The auditor reviews if the projects and credits are legitimate. After this, the project developers can sell credits to buyers directly, or can sell their credits to carbon exchanges, carbon retailers, or carbon offset programmes. Carbon exchanges are essentially “marketplaces” for carbon credits. Carbon retailers are similar; they offer a range of credits for buyers to purchase. Carbon offset programmes are a bit different; they set standards for and certifies carbon credits beyond the auditor, but they also issue credits themselves, so buyers can purchase from them too.

At its heart, the carbon market is about the relationship between the credit buyer and project developer (or credit supplier). But there are more players and layers to the market to make sense of.

I know who Project Developers are... but what are the others?

So many things to know!

In reality, the system is much more complex than that.

Project

Developers

Establish the projects, calculate emissions reductions impacts, generate credits based on them, and sell these credits.

Independently check if projects and credits are legitimate before projects are registered. Also run checks on ongoing projects.

Third-party

Auditors

Carbon Exchanges

Essentially “marketplaces”

for carbon credits; buyer

doesn’t have to buy from

project developers

directly.

Carbon Retailers

Offer a range of credits for

buyers to purchase; buyer

doesn’t have to buy from

project developer directly.

Carbon Offset

Programmes

Set standards for and

certifies carbon credits;

they also issue credits

themselves.

An illustrated infographic showing how the carbon market works. At its heart, the carbon market is about the relationship between the credit buyer and the project developer, also known as the credit supplier. But in reality, the carbon credit market has more players and layers than we think. The project developers create the projects and calculate how much credits are to be sold, then they let a third-party auditor in to check. The auditor reviews if the projects and credits are legitimate. After this, the project developers can sell credits to buyers directly, or can sell their credits to carbon exchanges, carbon retailers, or carbon offset programmes. Carbon exchanges are essentially “marketplaces” for carbon credits. Carbon retailers are similar; they offer a range of credits for buyers to purchase. Carbon offset programmes are a bit different; they set standards for and certifies carbon credits beyond the auditor, but they also issue credits themselves, so buyers can purchase from them too.

At its heart, the carbon market is about the relationship between the credit buyer and project developer (or credit supplier). But there are more players and layers to the market to make sense of.

I know who Project Developers are... but what are the others?

So many things to know!

In reality, the system is much more complex than that.

Establish the projects, calculate emissions reductions impacts, generate credits based on them, and sell these credits.

Project Developers

Independently check if projects and credits are legitimate before projects are registered. Also run checks on ongoing projects.

Third-party

Auditors

Carbon

Retailers

Carbon Offset

Programmes

Carbon

Exchanges

Offer a range of credits for

buyers to purchase; buyer

doesn’t have to buy from

project developer directly.

Set standards for and

certifies carbon credits;

they also issue credits

themselves.

Essentially “marketplaces”

for carbon credits; buyer

doesn’t have to buy from

project developers directly.

An illustrated infographic showing how the carbon market works. At its heart, the carbon market is about the relationship between the credit buyer and the project developer, also known as the credit supplier. But in reality, the carbon credit market has more players and layers than we think. The project developers create the projects and calculate how much credits are to be sold, then they let a third-party auditor in to check. The auditor reviews if the projects and credits are legitimate. After this, the project developers can sell credits to buyers directly, or can sell their credits to carbon exchanges, carbon retailers, or carbon offset programmes. Carbon exchanges are essentially “marketplaces” for carbon credits. Carbon retailers are similar; they offer a range of credits for buyers to purchase. Carbon offset programmes are a bit different; they set standards for and certifies carbon credits beyond the auditor, but they also issue credits themselves, so buyers can purchase from them too.

At its heart, the carbon market is about the relationship between the credit buyer and project developer (or credit supplier). But there are more players and layers to the market to make sense of.

I know who Project Developers are... but what are the others?

So many things to know!

In reality, the system is much more complex than that.

Project

Developers

Establish the projects, calculate emissions reductions impacts, generate credits based on them, and sell these credits.

Independently check if projects and credits are legitimate before projects are registered. Also run checks on ongoing projects.

Third-party

Auditors

Carbon Exchanges

Essentially “marketplaces”

for carbon credits; buyer

doesn’t have to buy from

project developers

directly.

Carbon Retailers

Offer a range of credits for

buyers to purchase; buyer

doesn’t have to buy from

project developer directly.

Carbon Offset

Programmes

Set standards for and

certifies carbon credits;

they also issue credits

themselves.