Voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) offer an important market mechanism that allows firms to efficiently abate their emissions. By utilizing the VCM, firms can buy voluntary carbon credits (VCCs) from carbon projects that have a lower marginal cost of abatement, allowing firms to decarbonize more efficiently.
This efficiency may lead to firms decarbonizing their operations more quickly and further than they would otherwise do on a voluntary basis.
One of the main obstacles in delivering the lowest cost abatement through VCCs and liquid, transparent VCMs is the perceived risk of greenwashing and its associated reputational and regulatory risks.
This paper: (1) provides an overview of VCCs; (2) explains greenwashing; (3) describes the origin, causes and risks of nature- and technology-based VCC methodologies at both the credit and system level; (4) discusses the effects of greenwashing on primary and secondary carbon markets; (5) highlights market reforms to minimize the risk of greenwashing (both regulatory and industry-led efforts); and (6) provides recommendations.
Click on the PDF to read the paper in full.
Documents (1) for Navigating the Risks of Greenwashing in the Voluntary Carbon Market
Latest
Future Path - IQ December 2025
At the start of ISDA’s 40th anniversary year, IQ convened the pioneers of the association to reflect on how a desperate need for standardization in the early days of the derivatives market brought dealers together to develop a dictionary of...
Steps to a Vibrant Derivatives Market: SOM Remarks
Steps to a Vibrant and Resilient Derivatives Market December 4, 2025 Remarks at the Mediterranean Partnership of Securities Regulators Scott O’Malia ISDA Chief Executive Officer Good afternoon and thank you to the Mediterranean Partnership of Securities Regulators (MPSR) for...
ISDA Response to BoE on Gilt Market Resilience
On November 28, ISDA responded to the Bank of England’s discussion paper on gilt market resilience. ISDA encourages the Bank of England, before introducing any significant policy changes that would affect the functioning of the gilt repo market, to consider...
Addressing Termination Troubles
When Enron announced a shock $618 million loss on October 16, 2001, it took a further 47 days until it filed for bankruptcy. For Bear Stearns, it took 266 days between its bailout of a structured credit fund run by...