As companies decarbonize, they can unlock new revenue opportunities in the voluntary carbon market (VCM) through carbon credit generation—opportunities often overlooked. Integrating carbon offsets into a sustainability strategy requires a solid grasp of the VCM, including the types of offsets, their criteria, and the processes for credit generation, issuance, and transactions. ClearBlue Markets' award-winning Advisory Services team offers tailored services across the entire value chain, empowering your organization to navigate the VCM with confidence and ease. In this spotlight interview, we spoke with Gerald Ouellette, Director of Offset Advisory.
ClearBlue Markets (CB): Who seeks assistance from ClearBlue Markets' VCM Advisory team?
Gerald Ouellette (GO): ClearBlue supports a diverse range of clients globally, including
industrial emitters, energy companies, financial institutions, governments, and nonprofits.
Our clients span from early-stage VCM entrants to seasoned players looking to procure carbon credits or explore monetization opportunities for their decarbonization projects.
CB: What challenges do clients face?
GO: Clients often struggle with where to begin, understanding the basics of the VCM, and identifying revenue generation opportunities. We guide them through the intricacies of the market, helping them understand how the VCM can support their decarbonization goals and
unlock revenue streams. It's a complex space with many moving parts, but we work to simplify it for our clients.
CB: How do you start helping clients?
GO: We begin by understanding each client’s sustainability and carbon market journey, internal goals, climate targets, and timelines. From there, we craft a tailored offset strategy that provides a foundation for success, covering market structure, credit pricing, project types, and risk considerations.
Our VCM pre-feasibility assessments identify carbon crediting opportunities, while our Voluntary Position Manager (VPM) tool—part of our ClearBlue Vantage platform—helps clients budget, track emissions, and manage offsets.
CB: What suggestions do you have for companies just starting out?
GO: The time to act is now. Starting early allows companies to benefit from credit availability, lower prices, and quicker progress toward climate goals. Let’s discuss your sustainability journey and how ClearBlue Markets can help you navigate and succeed in the VCM.
CB: What resources do you provide to participants in the VCM?
GO: Our expert advisors are here to guide you through every step of your VCM journey. We recently launched our Sustainability Leader’s Guide to the Voluntary Carbon Market, a free resource that helps leaders understand the nuts and bolts of the VCM and how offsetting can enhance sustainability strategies. Our ClearBlue Vantage platform, including our Voluntary Position Manager tool, enables clients to track emissions, manage portfolios, and plan budgets with real-time insights. Additional resources like our VCM quarterly updates and Offset Price discovery Tool are also available.
Read more about ClearBlue’s win as best Advisory/Consultancy in the Environmental Finance Voluntary Carbon Market Rankings 2024.
Connect with ClearBlue to inquire about our Advisory Services.