The ICVCM Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) are a definitive indicator of high-integrity carbon credits. They promise to transform the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) as more methodologies gain approval and market participants become accustomed to the CCP framework and the streamlined trading instruments available.
On July 23rd, Xpansiv® launched trading of standardized Global Emissions Offset™ (GEO®) contracts aligned with the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market’s (ICVCM) Core Carbon Principles (CCP) on its CBL spot exchange. This launch marks a significant milestone in the carbon market, aiming to provide transparent price discovery and streamlined market access.
Mercuria Energy America, LLC, ClimeCo, ElectroRoute, Valitera, South Pole, and Cross Stone Capital were among the first-day participants in the new contracts. A total of 37,606 metric tons were traded via the new CCP GEO contracts amidst widespread interest from market participants globally. The transactions included 10,000 tons of ACR, 15,606 tons of CAR, and 12,000 tons of VCS credits traded through their respective CBL CCP GEO registry-specific contracts. Additionally, a total of 73,778 tons of bids and offers for the new contracts were posted to the CBL screen during the trading day.
Adam Raphaely, Managing Director at Mercuria Energy America, LLC, emphasized the importance of this launch, stating, “The launch of Xpansiv CBL’s standardized contracts is an important step to provide transparent price discovery and streamlined market access to buyers and sellers of ICVCM CCP-approved credits. Mercuria is pleased to support innovative market-based mechanisms, such as CBL’s new CCP instruments, that have the potential to accelerate and scale climate finance critically needed to drive decarbonization globally.”
Alex Bryson, Head of Green and Carbon at ElectroRoute, also highlighted the positive impact of standardization efforts, saying, “Standardization efforts such as this contract are likely to be very positive for the market, and we are pleased to participate at an early stage.”
Vincent Verweij, Co-head of Carbon Markets at Valitera, expressed support for the new contracts, stating, “We are pleased to support the launch of Xpansiv’s CBL’s new ICVCM’s Core Carbon Principles-aligned benchmark contracts. The Core Carbon Principles, and their corresponding standardized contracts, are an important validation of the voluntary carbon market, which we think will be a useful paradigm for new companies entering the VCM as well as for veteran participants.”
Tyler Hogan, COO/co-CIO of Cross Stone Capital, a leading VCM market maker, added, “We support the roll out of Xpansiv CBL’s CCP standardized contracts, which is an important step in enabling market participants to differentiate high-quality credits within the VCM. Standardized, exchange contracts are often pivotal to the growth of markets, and we are optimistic the new contracts will play that role in the development of CCP credit trading.”
The introduction of these standardized contracts is expected to play a crucial role in the development and growth of the voluntary carbon market, providing a clear signal of high-integrity carbon credits and fostering greater confidence among market participants.