The carbon market’s quality problem

What this episode covers

Allister Furey, co-founder and CEO of Sylvera, discusses the quality crisis in the voluntary carbon market, citing recent scandals involving Verra and Delta Air Lines. He explains how the market is transitioning from a 'storytelling' phase to one driven by rigorous net-zero accounting, requiring verification of additionality, permanence, and accurate carbon accounting. Furey highlights the massive price disparity between low-quality avoidance credits and expensive engineered removals, arguing that high prices do not guarantee quality and that transparency is essential to prevent the market from collapsing again.