Principles for Carbon Pricing Standards

The Banking Coalition for the Green Economy has developed a set of foundational principles for global carbon pricing standards, laying the groundwork for the upcoming Carbon Pricing Index. These principles establish a transparent, standardised mechanism for carbon price discovery, essential for aligning fragmented markets, emission trading systems, and varying carbon asset qualities.

By providing a unified approach to carbon pricing, these principles facilitate international decarbonisation investments and ensure consistency across financial markets.

What the Carbon Pricing Standards Measure

The principles outline how carbon assets, including credits and offsets, are valued across different markets and sectors. By standardising carbon valuation, these principles help financial institutions, corporations, and governments integrate carbon pricing into transactions, investment decisions, and sustainability strategies.

Importance of Carbon Pricing Standards

The introduction of these principles is a critical step towards a cohesive global approach to carbon pricing. They provide a consistent basis for integrating carbon valuation across borders, enhancing transparency, and fostering widespread adoption of carbon-linked financial products.

Key Features

  • Foundation for the Carbon Pricing Index: These principles are essential to the development of the forthcoming Carbon Pricing Index, which will serve as a financial benchmark for carbon-linked assets.

  • International Scope: The principles bridge regional differences in carbon pricing and are adaptable to carbon markets globally.

  • Cross-border Decarbonisation: They facilitate international decarbonisation investments, supporting projects that lower global emissions.

  • Standardised Financial Products: These principles pave the way for carbon-linked financial instruments, such as loans and green bonds, that are consistent and reliable across markets.

Development and Governance

The principles for carbon pricing standards are governed by the Banking Coalition for the Green Economy, a non-profit dedicated to ensuring adoption and continuous improvement of these standards in global financial markets.

Applications

  • Carbon Pricing Index: The principles form the basis for the Carbon Pricing Index, which will act as a benchmark for carbon valuation in financial markets.

  • Carbon-linked Financial Instruments: They support the development of standardised products like green bonds, carbon futures, and carbon-linked ETFs.

  • Corporate Sustainability: Organisations can leverage these principles to integrate carbon pricing into financial planning and reporting.

  • Regulatory Compliance: Governments and regulators can use the principles as a reference for assessing carbon emissions.

Documents

Principles for Carbon Pricing Standards
September 2024