Carbon Credit Trading in China Hopes to Help Curb Wanton Pollution

How Emerald Knight Carbon Credits Can Reduce Social Unrest

Pollution can drive societies to the brink of agitation. Just ask China.

The country with a pollution problem bad enough to make people wear surgical masks every day has recently initiated carbon trading for cleaner air. Pilot programs have already started in several China cities where air pollution is at its worst, mostly in the northern province of Hubei. Trading carbon credits from Emerald Knight, in this case, has both environmental and social implications.

For many, it's a welcome move. Pollution-related ailments claim half-a-million lives every year in China, says the World Bank, reducing over-all life expectancy by 5.5 years. Hurdles in implementation of stricter environmental policies have given way to demonstrations over the past few years, one of which was in 2005 when three people were killed in a riot over a planned power plant in Dongzhou.

In 2009, China made a commitment during the climate talks in Copenhagen to reduce its emissions per unit of GDP to 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. The government saw emissions trading as one of two ways to achieve this goal, a strategy which will have companies either reducing their actual carbon emissions, or buying carbon credits.

However, one question remains. Is China serious about it?

The country's emissions trading scheme faces political and economic challenges. The government has failed to implement its environmental policies effectively due to some companies' unlawful practices like the construction of hidden pipes for toxic discharge or waste disposal under the cover of darkness. In addition, some firms, the government says, are under the protection of local officials.

Shenzhen will be the center of this collective effort. With more than 600 companies responsible for 40 percent of the city's air pollution, the program sets the limit for these companies at 100 million metric tons (Mt) of carbon within a three-year span. Shenzhen's initiatives won't have any significant impact; but if the program is successful, other cities like Beijing and Shanghai may soon follow.

Overall, China is tackling its pollution problem one city at a time. Its carbon trading pilot program, analysts say, is a signal to the world of the country's commitment to curb air pollution and reduce its emissions, as it intended to do so since Copenhagen. It is hoped that there will be less riots on the streets, especially if trading carbon credits from Emerald Knight proves to be a viable long-term solution.

Learning About Types of Carbon Credits Through Emerald Knight Consultants

The world may be heading towards a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions. Several environmental experts claim that global warming is a looming danger due to high greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and intense deforestation. The latter, in turn, reduces the ecosystem's ability to reprocess carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen.

The extension of the Kyoto Protocol until 2020 has given the international community an added push to trim all carbon emissions. Part and parcel of this effort is carbon credits trading, particularly among CO2 emitters of every stripe. If you are a CO2 emitter and you want to join such a market, you may want to seek guidance from companies that market carbon credits like Emerald Knight Consultants. This way, you'll learn which types of credits are applicable to you and how much you ought to trade.

Carbon credits are broken down into two categories. The Compliance Carbon Credits are the credits that are regulated and traded under the Kyoto Protocol. Emitters will often have specific reduction targets to meet. The Voluntary Carbon Credits are credits usually traded across several specific markets, especially in the United States, which has not ratified the Protocol and has no binding targets either.

The Certified Emission Reduction (CER) is the most basic form of Compliance Carbon Credit and this is found among projects in developing countries. The Clean Development Mechanism governs the emissions certification for such projects. Its counterpart in developed nations is the Emission Reduction Unit, which is made through Joint Implementation programs. The European Union also has its own trading scheme that follows the Protocol, called the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Emitters trading in Voluntary Carbon Credits can start through Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) credits, which have been established as an international standard. Already meeting standards as stated in the Kyoto Protocol, VCS credits require independent verification of permanent, measured abatement. Renewable Energy Certificates are unique in the sense that they represent how much CO2 is saved through the efficient use of renewable energy sources like wind in generating one megawatt-hour of electricity.

Climate change is enough to give people pause about the environment's woes. Carbon credit projects such as those marketed by companies such as Emerald Knight Consultants will help reduce carbon emissions and help reduce damage to the environment.

Some of the Ecologically Sound Investment Options from Emerald Knight

Investment Portfolio: Different Types of Projects Marketed by Emerald Knight for Carbon Credits

When considering ethical investments, there are a multitude of choices to select from, each with different aspects to consider. Emerald Knight actively look for and promote ethical opportunities which can be marketed to their database to ensure clients have the opportunity to read about projects and determine for themselves if they are suitable for their portfolio. Below are examples of projects marketed by Emerald Knight Consultants.

Bamboo Investment

Planting the world’s tallest grass has proven to be a viable enterprise due to its rapid growth and numerous applications. Hectares of bamboo forests cater to the increasing demand for timber, while also serving as “cleaners” of the atmosphere by absorbing tonnes of carbon dioxide. One of the main highlights of investing in Emerald Knight’s bamboo projects is the return on investment (ROI) forecast at around 25 percent each year.

Renewable Energy

Alternative and sustainable energy sources are fast-growing investment opportunities, more so when more and more corporations and organizations are pressured to go green and reduce their carbon footprint. Technological developments have made the construction of solar farms and wind farms more feasible, the latter requiring careful site selection. Offshore wind turbines, especially in the United Kingdom, have begun providing several more gigawatts of electric power due to these investments.

Forestry Investment

If you’re looking for a long-term investment that focuses on carbon offsetting as much as ROI, sustainable forestry projects are a good option. Apart from minimizing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, forests also prevent flooding, soil erosion, and other imbalances in the ecosystem. Placing your money in forestry projects is like supporting the rehabilitation of sickly Mother Earth.

Timber Investment

Timber investment is different from forestry since timber is focused more on catering to demands for commercial wood. Timber forests are usually planted with hardwood and softwood tree species such as mahogany, teak, and pine. Without sustainable timberland, you can bid farewell to lumber, pulp and paper products, and wood-based construction materials.

Using Emerald Knight to research green investment opportunities is an effective way for you to learn about investment projects that are being set up to help make the world a better place. Indeed, you don’t need superpowers and a costume to be a hero. Sometimes, all it takes is a good head for investments, and a heart for ethical principles.