"Carbon Credits provide the key financing element in the fight against climate change, allowing money to be put back into helping to reduce the effects that GHGGreenhouse Gases in the earth's atmosphere absorb and re-emit infrared radiation. The Kyoto ProtocolAn international agreement linked to the UNFCCC and sharing its aim of stabilising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, but requiring separate ratification by governments. The Kyoto Protocol, among other things, sets binding targets for the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions by industrialized countries. It entered into force for ratifying countries in February 2006 and commits developed nations to collectively cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2 per cent of 1990 levels by 2012. Came into force in Australia on 11 March 2008. lists six major greenhouse gases, which vary in their relative warming effect. The six gases are: carbon dioxideA greenhouse gas that is produced as a by-product of oil and gas production, burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as from all animals, plants, and a number of other natural sources. Carbon dioxide is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s temperature. (CO2), methaneMethane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas with a GWP of 21. (CH4), nitrous oxideAgriculture accounts for the majority of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in Australia, The transport sector also contributes to emissions of N2O. N2O has a high global warming potential of about 310 times that of CO2.it breaks down very slowly – over about 120 years (N2O), HFCs (hydrofluorocarbonsMajor releases of HFCs are from leakage from refrigeration equipment during operation and its end-of-life destruction. Minor releases arise from the use of HFC-containing aerosols, air conditioners and metered dose inhalers.HFCs have very high global warming potentials (140 to 11,700 times that of carbon dioxide).), PFCsMost emissions of PFCs in Australia are generated during aluminium production. PFCs have extremely high global warming potentials (5000 to 10,000 times that of carbon dioxide). However, because they are only released in relatively small amounts, their contribution to global warming is minor. Due to their stability they have very long atmospheric lifetimes (thousands of years). (perfluorocarbons) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is a man-made chemical. The major sources of SF6 release include leakage from electrical switchgear, from magnesium smelting processes and use in semiconductor manufacture. It has by far the highest global warming potential (23,900 times that of carbon dioxide), however it is only released in relatively small amounts.). have on our environment.
Carbon Trade Exchange is the first global electronic spot trading platform for voluntary carbon credits (e.g. VERsVerified Emission Reductions or Voluntary Emissions Reductions are tradable credits for greenhouse emission reduction activities generated to meet voluntary demand for carbon credits by organisations and individuals wanting to offsetA carbon offset is an investment in a project or activity that reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or sequesters carbon from the atmosphere that is used to compensate for GHG emissions from your own activities. For more information see here. their own emissions. VERs can be generated from projects to which a range of circumstances might apply, including:
- are either based in a country that has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol (e.g. USA) or does not have the infrastructure to support CDMClean Development Mechanism is a Kyoto Protocol mechanism under which projects set up in developing countries to reduce GHGs generate tradeable credits called CERs. The credits can be used by industrialised nations to help meet their Kyoto reduction targets. Find out more here. project development;
- have not yet been registered under the CDM;
- fall outside the scope of the CDM;
- are too small to warrant the costs of CDM approval;
- are specifically developed for the voluntary market.) and soon to be compliance carbon credits (e.g. CERsCertified Emission ReductionsCertified Emission Reductions are credits generated under Kyoto's CDM. One CER unit is equivalent to the reduction of one metric tonne of CO2e. They are designed to be used by industrialised countries to count towards meeting their Kyoto targets. They can also be used as part of domestic targets, for example EU companies and governments use them as offsets against their emissions under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. are credits generated under Kyoto's CDM. One CER unit is equivalent to the reduction of one metric tonne of CO2eCarbon dioxide equivalent. In order to compare emissions between the six Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gases they have been assigned a global warming potential (GWP) measured in carbon dioxide equivalents to reflect their influence on warming the atmosphere. GWP is a relative scale, where CO2 = 1. The other gases are given a number based on their effect on the atmosphere relative to CO2. For example, methane has a GWP of 21, meaning it has 21 times the amount of heating capacity of CO2.. They are designed to be used by industrialised countries to count towards meeting their Kyoto targets. They can also be used as part of domestic targets, for example EU companies and governments use them as offsets against their emissions under the EU Emissions TradingUsually means an ETS. In relation to the Kyoto Protocol, Annex I countries can trade emissions reduction credits in order to comply with their Kyoto-assigned targets. (See also ETS.) Scheme.). Carbon Trade Exchange is a fully secure web based platform which can be accessed by its members to buy or sell carbon credits from anywhere in the world, creating a central hub of carbon market participants including project originators, carbon brokers, carbon consultants and auditors, NGO’s, large corporates and SME’s.

The aim of Carbon Trade Exchange is to provide a trusted, fully transparent marketplace where businesses can buy carbon permits/offsets while being confident in the quality and origin of the products being sold. Through its strategic alliance with the leading international carbon registries (including Markit Environmental Registry & CDC Climat), Carbon Trade Exchange is able to list all the major internationally recognised Voluntary Carbon Standards,including VCSThe VCS Program includes the standard (VCS 2007Is a certification standard for carbon offset projects. It provides a global standard for voluntary GHG emission reduction and removal projects and their validation and verification.) and the Program Guidelines 2007. The VCS Program provides a global standard and criteria for validating, measuring, and monitoring voluntary carbon offset projects. For more information, see here. and Gold StandardA certification standard for carbon offset projects. Initiated by WWF, SSN and Helio International, the Gold Standard for CDM projects was launched in 2003 after wide-ranging stakeholder consultation among key actors of the carbon market as well as governments. For more information see here.. The platform allows members to easily select specific types of projects (credits) from around the world, type of accreditation, vintage, location and ultimately the price they are willing to pay. All verification documentation, photos, and videos of each project are easily accessible through our online portal. The benefit of Carbon Trade Exchange is it allows business of all sizes to access the market with trades as small as 100t and as large as 10,000,000t possible"