LIFE + - CARBOMARK - Improvement of policies toward local voluntary carbon markets for climate change mitigation

The overall objective of the project is to promote a local Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) to trade carbon credits. The initiative will strengthen the European Union policies contrasting climate change. Carbomark is a pilot action that will create a local VCM. The VCM will trade carbon credits and will aim to offset greenhouse gas emissions, which is one of the main causes for climate change. A carbon credit is an "intangible" entity produced with an activity that absorbs carbon dioxide or avoids emitting greenhouse gases. The credit market will only base on local mitigation activities and will not include activities taking place in other countries. Carbomark market will favour the trading of credits resulting from a wide range of agro-forest activities: Forest management; Wood products; Urban forestry; Biochar. The market service started in September 2010, when local small and medium enterprises had the opportunity of buying local carbon credits to offset their emissions. Carbomark market involves two regions in north-east of Italy – Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia.