Now more than ever, voluntary action to reduce carbon emissions is needed. Leading organisations are stepping up to the challenge, despite the failure of international climate change negotiations, and the delay in introducing a national emission-trading scheme. The voluntary carbon market needs to be strengthened and expanded to support this action.

The voluntary carbon market includes the purchase and trade of GreenPower^TM renewable energy certificates, energy efficiency certificates and carbon abatement certificates from plantations. The VCMA believes the market needs to be credible and accountable so that consumers are getting what they pay for, and so that carbon emissions are genuinely reduced.

An expanded voluntary carbon market will allow more organisations and individuals to reduce emissions and even achieve carbon neutrality, with the right government policies in place.  Importantly, the voluntary market can be complementary and additional to any future emissions trading scheme, or international agreement.