Please tell us about your current role and employer.
I am currently working as a Communications Officer at the Integrity Council for Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM). In this role, I work in a team of three in managing both internal and external communications for the organization. My responsibilities encompass coordinating events, preparing content for speakers, website etc., monitoring media channels, handling journalist inquiries, and triaging external queries.
ICVCM is a non-governmental organization (NGO) established post-COP26 with support from the UK Government. Our primary objective is to institute standards within the voluntary carbon market, emphasizing transparency. We have devised a comprehensive framework, and in the upcoming year, organizations will submit applications for verification to trade carbon credits.
In simpler terms, imagine a voluntary carbon market as akin to a stock market, with companies engaging in the purchase of carbon credits to offset their emissions. However, this market, since it’s voluntary, lacks regulation and transparency, paving the way for potential issues. ICVCM has taken the initiative to set forth a set of rules for organizations to voluntarily adhere to, earning them a label that attests to their authenticity and transparent trading of carbon credits, thereby avoiding greenwashing practices.