Fixing the messy voluntary carbon market

What this episode covers

Ryan Orbuch, partner at Lowercarbon Capital, argues that the voluntary carbon market is fixable by shifting from pre-issued avoidance credits to ex-post paid carbon removal credits. He explains that the old system’s bad incentives led to worthless credits and fraud, whereas a new model using modular protocols, like those pioneered by Isometric for Charm Industrial, aligns registry incentives with buyers and provides a feedback loop for suppliers. Orbuch details how this approach handles scientific uncertainty through statistical bounding and modular design to ensure real carbon cycle impact.