IETA was the first international, multi-sectoral, purely business group devoted to pricing and trading greenhouse gas reductions. From the start, it had a strong focus on the Kyoto mechanisms and helped members using, hosting and investing in Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) projects by disseminating policy and market information and promoting development and reform. As markets developed, IETA expanded its work to cover the EU ETS, sub-national efforts in North America, China, Korea, New Zealand and emerging markets across Latin America. In more recent years, IETA has also developed work streams on digitisation, aviation, natural climate solutions, voluntary carbon markets, and carbon removals.
IETA has a proud history of convening carbon market participants. In 2004, IETA joined the World Bank and Koelnmesse in co-founding Carbon Expo, the first annual global carbon trade fair and conference. It continues today under the banner of Innovate4Climate, still the largest and most authoritative gathering of carbon market stakeholders. IETA built on this experience to co-organise regional Carbon Forums in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America, offering IETA members platforms to discover new opportunities around the world.
IETA has remained true to its mission through highs and lows in market activity – and through political shifts and economic shocks. It continues to aim for excellence in harnessing market forces to deliver climate protection – to address climate challenges with market solutions and to make net zero possible.
At the international level, IETA focuses on the transparency rules and accounting standards under Articles 5 and 6 of the Paris Agreement, and also for the Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and voluntary markets. At the national and sub-national levels, IETA promotes best practices for offset and allowance markets aligned with the goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
IETA is dedicated to the establishment of linked trading systems to ensure efficient and competitive GHG markets. IETA provides thought leadership on the distinct advantages of linked markets by collaborating with deep subject matter experts in academia and think-tanks.
IETA brings together experienced carbon market practitioners and stakeholders in new emissions markets to share lessons learned and best practices. IETA seeks continuous improvement in carbon pricing systems, including innovations to advance natural climate solutions.
IETA uses its global reach and reputation to promote the go-to events for market participants, including its many regional carbon fora. These events showcase excellence, explore market insights and offer networking opportunities in every region of the world.
We are committed to delivering on the IETA Mission through everything we do and the way
we work.
We always maintain our authenticity, integrity and remain fact-based.
We recognise the value that everyone’s diverse experiences, abilities and backgrounds can bring and are fully committed to ensuring our policies, processes and behaviours promote equality and an inclusive culture.
We work well with others, towards a common goal, learning from one another and solving problems through our collective experience and skills.
We are open and honest with others, no matter how challenging it might be. We welcome the benefits that come from being straightforward.
Emissions trading is one of the principal policy instruments available to manage industrial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by encouraging operational excellence and the deployment of new and existing technologies. Emissions trading is effective because:
A central objective of climate change policy should be the efficient direction of capital within the market towards low and zero carbon emission investment. To achieve this an emissions market requires:
In the longer term the market should grow and evolve to provide wide sectoral, geographic and GHG coverage, leading to a global trading regime. This will require:
IETA aims to ensure that system design, implementation and review delivers a functioning, efficient market. Key aspects of our approach include:
IETA upholds its principles by acting as a think tank, a convenor of dialogues, an advocate, a market promoter and acting as a body that is able to drive market standards.
IETA is a membership organisation where all members have one vote, used at the Annual General Meeting and any Extraordinary General meetings. Half of IETA’s 18 Board members are elected each year.
IETA’s articles and bylaws are available online. IETA’s competition policy and internal guidance for developing position papers are also available.
IETA awards honorary fellowships to individuals in recognition of their contributions to developing market-based solutions to climate change and in strengthening the role of the IETA in building the profession. IETA Fellows are named each year.
