ICF International is at the forefront of developing carbon market strategies and policy analyses for leading corporations, multilateral organizations, and governments throughout the world. ICF International has helped more than 55 of the Financial Times Global 500 (FT500) companies in Europe, the Americas, and Asia to align climate change concerns with their core commercial strategies over the past 15 years. ICF’s services include emissions trading and carbon offsets procurement strategies, market analysis in support of low carbon technology companies, and carbon market implications of government and international policy developments. ICF has also developed a proprietary state-of-the-art carbon price forecasting model, InCaP™ (International Carbon Pricing Tool), to assist decision makers with assessing financial risks related to current and potential future carbon constraints.
ICF has produced two in-depth studies pertaining to international carbon markets and their participants:
- Voluntary Carbon Offsets Market Outlook
This is a detailed review of the voluntary carbon market for buyers, sellers, and investors in voluntary carbon offsets. It aims to address key topics such as identification and understanding of the different market segments, size and growth of the voluntary market, trends in standardization of these voluntary initiatives, experiences of buyers and sellers in the market, opportunities and barriers associated with different project types, and criticisms that have been leveled at the offset market.
- Carbon Procurement Vehicles: Investor’s Guide 2007
(released in June 2006)
This report provides guidance to (i) Investors: financial institutions and companies with liabilities under emission trading schemes interested in investing in carbon procurement vehicles in return for cash and carbon credits; (ii) Buyers: companies interested in purchasing carbon credits from carbon funds for compliance or to meet voluntary targets; and (iii) Sellers: Project developers, financial institutions, and other companies interested in commercializing their emission reductions to carbon procurement vehicles. The report helps to raise understanding of the characteristics, purposes, and modalities of carbon procurement vehicles and to make qualified decisions when investing in carbon procurement vehicles or buying or selling credits to carbon procurement vehicles.
These multiclient studies are available for US$5,000 each.
Selected Projects
Analysis of Lessons Learned for Japanese Companies from European Experiences with GHG Emissions Trading, Fuji Research Institute Corporation (Mizuho Bank). ICF prepared an analysis of lessons learned from Europe in the area of emissions trading and their potential applicability to Japanese companies interested in the market-based mechanisms included in the Kyoto Protocol.
GHG Advisors to HSBC Group's Task Force on Carbon-Neutral Strategy. ICF International is providing ongoing advice to one of the world’s leading financial institutions on its strategy to adopt a carbon-neutral commitment. ICF International helped HSBC Group evaluate the costs, benefits, and reputation impacts of different approaches to meeting its strategy and provided input into its communications approach with different stakeholders. The Task Force reports to the CEO of HSBC Group.
Climate Strategy Development for a Global Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Company. ICF International is helping one of the world's leading company's (measured by brand value) to evaluate the options for the company as it considers its approach on climate strategy for 2006-2010 for various categories of its emissions, including direct manufacturing, product transport, business travel, and other indirect emissions. Our work also provided an input into the company's corporate reputation strategy.
Evaluation for Scandinavian Energy Company of the Price of Carbon and Impact on Value of a New Gas-Fired Power Plant. ICF International assisted an energy company in developing scenarios for the price of C02 from 2005-2030, with a view to building the business case for a proposed gas-fired plant in Scandinavia. Our analysis was used to support management's investment decision.
Planning GHG Emission Abatement Projects in the Russian Iron and Steel Sector. ICF International supported efforts aimed at improving the energy efficiency and reducing GHG emissions in the Russian iron and steel industry. This work included estimating current energy use and emissions at the industry and plant levels, developing options to reduce emissions, and coordinating joint activities with individual Russian plants. ICF International secured agreements of the six largest iron and steel works in Russia to participate in the Russian Iron/Steel Energy Initiative.
Marketing Strategy for a Pan-European Energy Industry Association. This project is a five-year engagement for a European energy association with member companies in the transmission sector. Our advice is helping the association position itself to take commercial advantage of the opportunities presented by the confluence of several European directives—efforts to reduce carbon emissions, promote renewable energy projects, and accelerate efforts to create a liberalized and interconnected European electricity market.
Assessment of Green Power and Emissions Markets for Confidential European Electric Utility Client. In support of a European independent power producer interested in the market potential for renewable energy generation in Europe, ICF International prepared a study examining the European Commission’s new directive on green power, as well as European Union Member Statess domestic policies for tradable green certificates. ICF International also prepared an analysis of the potential for obtaining a green price premium over the prevailing wholesale power market price in Italy for a new wind power project.
Clean Energy Group GHG Emissions Impacts and Trading Opportunities. ICF International prepared a comprehensive assessment of the corporate implications on asset valuation and emissions trading options under varying U.S. and international GHG policy scenarios for the U.S.-based Clean Energy Group, a consortium of regulated and nonregulated electric and gas industry companies. ICF’s analysis provided the company with an understanding of the risks and potential strategic positioning to enhance corporate valuation.
Internal and External GHG Emissions Trading Tool Development for European Airline Transport and North American Energy Sector. ICF International prepared a proprietary GHG emissions trading tool, demonstrating its applicability to British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, and other airline companies at a Geneva, Switzerland, conference. In addition, ICF showcased its trading tool to Canadian, European, and U.S. government offices.
Fannie Mae GHG Residential Emissions Trading Initiative Measurement and Verification Protocol (MVP) Development and Project Support. ICF International is developing the MVPs for Fannie Mae’s Emissions Trading Initiative (ETI), an innovative partnership with U.S. energy companies that bundles emissions reductions associated with residential energy efficiency programs. ICF is creating leading-edge energy efficiency MVP software and handbooks. ICF developed emissions standardization and pooling procedures to create a uniform product for sale in the U.S. and international emissions trading markets.
Establishment of Internal Emissions Trading Program in Canadian Energy Company. ICF International is assisting a Canadian energy company to understand, design an intranet software tool for, and implement an internal emission trading program. ICF services will allow the company to set up an internal trading system as appropriate to implement an internal price discovery system and be prepared for any national and international trading system under various policy scenarios (cap and trade, allowance, or hybrid).
Impact Assessment of Climate Change Policy on Transport Fuels Portfolio for Multinational Oil and Gas Company. ICF International analyzed the impact of existing and likely policy measures to control emissions of greenhouse gases along the transport fuel and vehicle life cycles. Our analysis evaluated the effectiveness, efficiency, likelihood, and impacts of policies in different regions and over different time frames from 2005-2050.
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