Oxford Masterclass on International Carbon Markets

By the end of this Masterclass participants will be able to:

• Appreciate the distinction between voluntary and compliance carbon markets, as well as the ways in which they intersect
• Critically assess opportunities for and barriers to the net zero alignment of such systems
• Understand the latest developments in international carbon markets under the Paris Agreement and how they may evolve in future
• Navigate tools to assist with understanding the complexities of carbon market practice

• Foundations of the International Carbon Market 

This session will introduce key terminology and concepts related to the international carbon market. It will introduce the history, form and function of voluntary and compliance based schemes and how they interact to form the international carbon market at large.

• Fundamentals of Net Zero Aligned Carbon Markets 

This session will introduce the distinction between the different types of carbon credits and projects on the carbon market today, including the distinction between avoidance, reduction and removals, and the different types of them that can exist. This session will also introduce the revised Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting and explore an interactive case study to bring them to life.

• Carbon Markets in the Era of the Paris Agreement 

This session will review the nascent international carbon market structures in the era of Paris implementation, including cooperative approaches under Article 6.2, the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism under Article 6.4. It will further explore the role of emerging sectoral carbon markets established to address international aviation and maritime emissions, and what the new frontiers of international carbon markets means for the private sector.

• Pathfinding in the Carbon Market of Tomorrow

This session will examine the future of carbon market developments, what tailwinds and headwinds are on the horizon for specific project types as well as the overall ecosystem. This session will further review practical tools to help critically assess opportunities and risks in the international carbon market including carbon credit rating agencies, insurance and databases. It will also include the opportunity to hear experiences from practitioners themselves.

The fee for the Oxford Masterclass on International Carbon Markets is £950. There is a discretionary discounted rate of £475 for participants whose proven primary employment is in the public and third sectors. We define the public and third sectors as:

• central or local government
• regulatory agencies
• supervisory authorities
• central banks
• multilateral institutions
• non-profit civil society organisations
• registered charities
• philanthropic organisations

State-backed companies, including public financial institutions, operating to make a commercial return are not eligible for discretionary discounts. Nor are consultants serving public and third sector clients. 

We apply the discretionary discount on a case-by-case basis and will prioritise those from emerging markets and developing countries. At the same time as considering a discretionary discount we will consider eligibility for bursaries based on merit and need. We may request further information from you and your employer before we can process a discount or bursary