Online Course
Become a Certified Carbon Markets Advisor
This comprehensive online course equips you with in-depth, actionable knowledge to develop, finance, and sell carbon projects in both compliance and voluntary carbon markets. By the end, you will confidently function as a Carbon Market Advisor, capable of guiding projects from conception to monetization.
Format
Self-paced, live/recorded sessions, deadlines for practice assignments
Duration
15 weeks
Starting date
June 1, 2025
Price (USD)
$ 500
(Developing country)
$ 720
(Other country)
Upon completing the course, learners will be able to:
- Differentiate between compliance and voluntary carbon markets, explaining their key mechanisms, regulatory frameworks, and the roles of various actors.
- Assess project eligibility for carbon credits by applying criteria such as additionality, baseline determination, permanence, and leakage prevention, as well as social and environmental safeguards.
- Identify appropriate carbon crediting methodologies for different project types (energy, forestry, agriculture, waste, etc.) and navigate the selection of standards.
- Design and document a carbon project from concept to registration, including conducting feasibility studies, writing Project Design Documents and preparing monitoring plans in line with international best practices
- Analyze carbon pricing and
market trends –
understand how project-specific factors and macro-level drivers influence carbon credit prices – and advise stakeholders on
pricing strategy.
Compare carbon taxation and cap-and-trade systems as climate policy tools, with the ability to explain how a carbon tax or an Emissions Trading System operates and affects businesses.
- Evaluate financial viability of carbon projects by estimating development and operating costs, potential credit revenues, and structuring financing (e.g. upfront investment, Emission Reduction Purchase Agreements).
- Manage risks and ensure integrity in carbon projects, including mitigation of non-delivery risk, navigating market volatility, and upholding high environmental and social standards to avoid greenwashing.
- Leverage technological innovations (such as digital MRV tools, IoT sensors, satellite monitoring, and blockchain) to enhance project monitoring, verification, and transparency.
- Utilize practical tools and templates (for PINs, feasibility assessments, monitoring reports, etc.) and learn from real case studies in Africa and Asia to apply lessons to new project opportunities.
- Advise organizations or communities on setting up carbon market projects, navigating regulatory approvals, and accessing carbon finance, thereby functioning as a semi-senior carbon advisor guiding project teams
Course Lessons
Course outline
Module 1: Introduction to Climate Change and Carbon Markets
Lays the foundation by linking climate change to carbon markets. It covers the basics of greenhouse gas emissions, the international policy response, and how carbon trading emerged as a solution to reduce emissions cost-effectively. Learners will grasp why carbon markets exist and how they function at a high level.
Module 2: Compliance Carbon Markets (Regulated Emissions Trading & Carbon Taxation)
Deep dive into compliance markets – those mandated by laws or international agreements. This module explores how governments create carbon pricing systems to meet targets, including emissions trading systems and carbon taxes. We examine design features, real-world examples, and the status of compliance markets in Africa and Asia
Module 3: Voluntary Carbon Markets and Standards
This module turns to the voluntary carbon market (VCM), where businesses, organizations, or even individuals purchase carbon credits voluntarily to offset their emissions or support climate goals. We examine how the VCM operates, who the players are, and how projects generate and sell credits outside of regulatory regimes. Emphasis is on standards, methodologies, and integrity in the voluntary market, as these govern the credibility of carbon offsets.
Module 4: Project Identification and Eligibility Criteria
This module begins the journey of carbon project development. It teaches how to identify activities suitable for carbon credits and ensure they meet key eligibility criteria. Learners will discover how to critically evaluate a project idea against the fundamental requirements of carbon standards.
Module 5: Carbon Credit Methodologies and Sector-Specific Approaches
Building on eligibility, this module focuses on the methodological side of carbon accounting for different project sectors. Learners will get an in-depth look at how emission reductions or removals are quantified in various types of projects, learning the logic of methodologies and key sector considerations. We cover energy, industry, waste, and AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use) sectors with examples.
Module 6: Carbon Project Development Cycle – From Design to Registration
This module walks through the end-to-end process of developing a carbon project under a standard, often called the project cycle. It’s essentially project management for carbon certification. Learners will see how all the planning and calculations (from previous modules) are documented and validated. By breaking it into stages – design, validation, registration, monitoring, verification, issuance – we give a clear roadmap that demystifies the procedural aspect.
Module 7: Carbon Finance and Funding Mechanisms
This module focuses on the financial side of carbon projects – costs, revenue, and investment. Developing a project isn’t free; understanding the economics is crucial for viability. We explore how much it costs to generate carbon credits, what financing sources exist, and how contracts are structured. This knowledge enables learners to actually get projects off the ground by securing funding and managing financial risk.
Module 8: Carbon Markets, Trading, and Carbon Pricing Dynamics
This module zooms out to the market level – how carbon credits are traded and priced in practice, and the factors that cause price fluctuations (market volatility). It complements Module 7 by focusing more on the market environment rather than project internal finances. Participants will learn about selling strategies, market infrastructure, and how external factors (economic or political) affect carbon markets.
Module 9: Risk Management and Ethical Considerations
This module consolidates various risks and ethical issues in carbon project development and how to handle them. While previous modules mentioned risks in context, here we take a holistic look. We also emphasize ethical practice – ensuring projects truly benefit communities and climate without unintended harm. This is key for sustainable success and personal credibility as an advisor.
Module 10: Innovation and Emerging Trends in Carbon Markets
This forward-looking module explores how technology and evolving market mechanisms will shape the future of carbon markets. For participants, this is about staying ahead and leveraging new tools to improve projects. It covers cutting-edge MRV technologies, digital platforms, and anticipated market developments (especially relevant for Africa/Asia) like the integration of carbon markets into sustainable development planning.
Module 11: Tools, Templates, and Case Studies
This module serves as a resource hub and real-world illustration section. It provides downloadable tools and templates that have been mentioned throughout the course and examines additional case studies in detail to consolidate learning. By seeing full case studies from start to finish, learners can better understand how all the pieces come together.
Module 12: Final Assessment (Exam and/or Project) and Certification
The course concludes with a final evaluation of learners’ knowledge and a roadmap for applying their new skills. Participants who fulfill the requirements will earn a certification of completion (and a Certified Carbon Market Advisor digital badge).
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