VCM

The Voluntary Carbon Market. Describes a market where project-based carbon credits are traded voluntarily and outside the scope of any national law (and regulation). Buyers can voluntarily purchase and retire these carbon credits to offset part of their own carbon emissions or to demonstrate climate action more broadly.

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DEFINITION BY

The Carbonwise editorial team is formed of seasoned established industry writers and specialist journalists.

LATEST GLOSSARY

Airbnb’s direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from its own offices, while indirect emissions come from the energy it consumes, and from upstream and downstream
Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is a method of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by trapping the gas for industrial use or permanent storage, preventing
Airbnb’s direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from its own offices, while indirect emissions come from the energy it consumes, and from upstream and downstream
Carbon offset standards organisations operate electronic registries in which the details of each project and each carbon credit issued and retired are kept.
The European Commission proposed several important changes to the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) in March after recent pushback from industry over rising costs.

29 April 2025

ARTICLE
Case Study: Airbnb targets net zero by 2030 with clean energy, carbon credits

Airbnb’s direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from its own offices, while indirect emissions come from the energy it consumes, and from upstream and downstream activities associated with its business...

20 April 2026

GLOSSARY
Registry Account

Carbon offset standards organisations operate electronic registries in which the details of each project and each carbon credit issued and retired are kept.

24 March 2026

HIGHLIGHT
EC touts major carbon market changes after pressure from industry

The European Commission proposed several important changes to the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) in March after recent pushback from industry over rising costs.

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