ThinkTankWeekly

Project-based carbon credits: Regulatory and market opportunities and challenges

Brookings | 2026-06-08 | energy

Topics: Climate, United States

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English Summary

This Brookings Institution report argues that project-based carbon credits offer a valuable mechanism for directing investment toward climate mitigation, but current markets are hampered by fragmentation and a lack of robust regulation. The analysis highlights the need for improved standards, shared infrastructure, and clear governance across both compliance and voluntary carbon markets. Specifically, the research recommends the EPA or Department of Energy as potential regulatory agencies to enhance market efficiency. The report’s findings underscore the urgency of reforming these markets to maximize their effectiveness in achieving climate goals.

中文摘要

布魯金斯研究所的一份報告認為,基於專案的碳信用額度提供了一個有價值的機制,可以將投資引向氣候減緩,但目前市場受到碎片化和缺乏健全監管的阻礙。分析指出,需要提高標準、建立共享基礎設施以及在符合規定的碳市場和自願碳市場中建立清晰的治理框架。具體而言,研究建議環境保護署(EPA)或能源部作為潛在的監管機構,以提高市場效率。報告的發現凸顯了改革這些市場以最大限度地提高其在實現氣候目標方面的有效性所帶來的緊迫性。

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