Many companies have recognised the powerful role of carbon credits within their climate strategies to drive meaningful action outside their value chains. But for both new market entrants and long-term buyers to tap into the evolving voluntary carbon market for strategic advantage, they need to understand what's happening.
Many companies have recognised the powerful role of carbon credits within their climate strategies to drive meaningful action outside their value chains. But for both new market entrants and long-term buyers to tap into the evolving voluntary carbon market for strategic advantage, they need to understand what's happening.
With over 17 years experience developing projects and supporting companies to compensate for over 170 million tonnes of CO2, we've translated our market insights into what to know for the year ahead.
Isabel Hagbrink is the Director of Communications at South Pole, a leading climate strategy and solutions company, responsible for strategic communications, branding, stakeholder engagement and advocacy efforts.
Isabel was previously responsible for carbon and climate finance communications at the World Bank in Washington DC, with a focus on projects and technologies around the world that reduce emissions and earn carbon credits. Previous to the World Bank, Isabel was the Vice President for voluntary carbon markets at MGM International, originating projects that reduce emissions in the US and responsible for the relationship with US clients and Morgan Stanley, its main shareholder.
As the Head of Project Development & Implementation, Bamshad is responsible for overseeing the generation of climate action credits, renewable energy certificates, biodiversity credits, and other products from South Pole's projects worldwide, both for the voluntary and compliance markets globally. The work covers a wide range of mitigation scopes in nature-based solutions and sustainable technologies and coordinates the supply side of South Pole's portfolio of climate action and other credits with South Pole's global sourcing team.
In the past 23 years Bamshad has been leading research, project development, and business management services for the sustainable technologies and natural resource conservation sectors. Since the early days of the CDM he has focused his efforts on developing and promoting climate mitigation solutions that make a positive climate and socio-ecological impact, especially those solutions that allow public-private institutions, businesses, and most importantly involved communities to play a key role in the global battle against climate change. As an engineer and a social entrepreneur, he strives to design optimum sustainable systems that demonstrate - to both businesses and societies - the clear benefits of living a sustainable lifestyle and transitioning the existing economic system to one that is fair and sustainable for all.
Bamshad's past experience and affiliations include serving as a methodology panel member for the UNFCCC Executive Board, as a technical member of the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) by VCS (aka Verra), involvement with WRI, UNEP DTU, the California GHG Program Registry - Climate Action Reserve (CAR), and being listed on the Roster of Experts for UNFCCC and the Gold Standard.
Judit is a Senior Managing Consultant with extensive expertise in mobilising finance for climate project development within the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM). She is also experienced in compliance carbon markets, assessing and tracking demand for ITMOs across different countries and sectors, understanding how regulations influence their demand, particularly those relating to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, monitoring buyers that are actively seeking ITMOs, and tracking price and volume expectations.
Her work also involves managing and overseeing every aspect of compliance, strategy, and execution related to the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) include ensuring that clients meet the mandatory reporting and offsetting requirements under CORSIA, advising on strategy, engaging with airlines, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders to navigate the scheme, tracking updates and developments and assessing demand and supply for CORSIA Phase I and Phase II.
Adam Sipthorpe is a Senior Manager for South Pole within the Portfolio team. His passion for novel climate solutions and drive for scaling high-quality Carbon Dioxide Removals (CDRs) has taken him around the world, from leading industry working groups with the objective to scale CCS markets globally to developing the business models for carbon capture technologies across Europe and North America. Adam is putting his expertise to good use by advising clients on how to best integrate CDRs into their climate strategy. Adam holds an MSc in Environmental Technology, with a focus on Energy Policy, Blockchain and Carbon Markets from Imperial College London.
Dave has worked across various energy and industrial sectors. This has included product development for reducing energy usage in concrete production and utilising various secondary combustion products as cement substitutes. Dave has a PhD from collaboration with a start-up SME and a BEng hons degree, both in Civil Engineering from Sheffield Hallam University.
Karolien is South Pole's Global Senior Director for Article 6. As such, she defines and oversees the company strategy for international compliance carbon markets governed under the UN Paris Agreement for the world's largest carbon asset manager. She has 18 years of experience in climate finance, development finance and carbon markets. Before joining South Pole, she worked with the Belgian Foreign Ministry, the United Nations and the Global Green Growth Institute. She lived and worked across Africa and Asia advising developing country governments on aid finance and green investment opportunities, managing programmes on clean energy, waste, transport, sustainable supply chains, NDCs and more. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Leuven with a Masters in Philosophy and holds a Masters in International Relations from Sciences Po Paris. Karolien speaks English, French, Dutch and German.
Ria Mariamah is a senior business development manager act South Pole, she establishes strategic partnerships and project origination for nature based solutions in South East Asia and pacific. In her current role, she advises private companies, NGOs and government institutions in South East Asia to set up nature based carbon projects for voluntary carbon market. She earned her Masters degree from SOAS University of London in climate change and development and has 12 years of experience in the development sector, particularly in natural resources management, forestry and land use governance, green economy and education. Her previous work including managing the UK FCDO forestry programmes in Papua provinces and conducting research on civil – military engagement for Save the children Palestine. She has also implemented programs funded by Walton family and Packard foundation in marine and fishery sector across Indonesia.
