Stakeholders and participants in the global carbon market convened in Washington DC at the annual Carbon Markets USA trade conference. Attendees examined the latest developments driving this evolving market, with a particular focus on the state of legislation in the United States and the progress in negotiations towards a global climate regime. Michael Mehling, president of the Ecologic Institute in Washington DC, was invited to address participants in the closing panel. In his address, he assessed the future outlook for climate negotiations and their implications for carbon markets around the globe.

Over the course of two days, participants attending the event at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in the heart of Washington’s Federal Triangle had an opportunity to follow a series of interactive panel discussions and case studies on issues relevant to the global carbon market. Issues covered by the invited policy makers, industry leaders and other experts included US policy developments, impacts on trade and competitiveness, investment opportunities and prospects for green recovery, and the role of offsets and forestry and agriculture.

For the closing panel, Michael Mehling was joined by John Larsen of the World Resources Institute, Lisa Jacobson of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and Michael Gillenwater of the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute. Among the issues they addressed during the lively discussion were the position of the United States at the climate summit in Copenhagen in December 2009, perspectives on the future of international climate change policy, the role and evolution of carbon markets post 2012, and the importance of creating efficient carbon market infrastructures

Carbon Markets USA is organized annually by GreenPower Conferences as part of their Carbon Markets Global Series, an annual calendar of events which provide a platform for stakeholders to learn and do business, driving growth in developing markets.