Global carbon ratings agency BeZero Carbon today announces its new Advisory Board, to provide independent advice and guidance as carbon markets continue to grow and scale.
BeZero Carbon provides risk-based ratings for carbon credits which give investors confidence to direct capital into carbon markets, which could be worth billions in the next decade, and are poised to accelerate the climate transition.
It provides risk analysis for every carbon credit type, and at every stage of a carbon project’s development.
The Board’s members include eminent researchers in climate science and environmental economics, as BeZero looks to draw on the expertise from the wider climate sector.
On the board sits Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas, Chief Executive of the Green Finance Institute, who brings twenty years experience in corporate finance. Rhian-Mari sits on numerous advisory boards across the UK Government, is a senior adviser to the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, and currently chairs the National Wealth Fund Taskforce for the UK Labour Party.
Cameron Hepburn, Professor of Environmental Economics at the University of Oxford, a former adviser to a UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, and part of the Academic Panel within the Departments for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and of Energy and Climate Change, also joins the board.
Dr Pernille Holtedahl, Research Fellow at Imperial College London’s Centre for Climate Finance and Investment, brings with her a wealth of experience in green finance to the Board—with a focus on green bonds and public-private financing of natural capital. She is an alum of the Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research, Vivid Economics, DNV GL, the World Bank, and a current senior consultant at S&P Global.
Alicia Seiger will offer expertise in energy policy to BeZero’s board. She is Managing Director of the Sustainable Finance Initiative out of the Standard Doerr School of Sustainability, and a Lecturer at Stanford Law School.
Dr. Laura-Marie Töpfer, currently serving as the Chief Sustainability Officer and Sustainability Area Leader for Western Europe at Microsoft, will be bringing her vast experience in scaling sustainability technology businesses across global corporations, investment firms and international organisations to the board. Töpfer has previously held leadership and advisory positions in organisations including the World Economic Forum, Extantia Capital, Santander and Social Impact Capital.
Sebastien Cross, Chief Innovation Officer and co-Founder at BeZero Carbon said: “We’re delighted to welcome such an esteemed line up of environmental and policy experts to our independent Advisory Board. Carbon markets will help accelerate the net zero transition - and it’s therefore crucial that they are scrutinised so they scale effectively. As a business, we’re committed to drawing insights from all areas of society to provide ongoing accountability, challenge and guidance as this market and our business continues to grow.”
Cameron Hepburn, Professor of Environmental Economics at the University of Oxford said: "The offset market needs to mature into a more sustainable and sensible phase. Carbon offsets are a vital tool for reaching net zero, especially in the final stages. Independent advice and guidance from ratings agencies such as BeZero is critical to ensure that polluters are not merely let off the hook, and for investors to have confidence to direct the necessary billions to cleaning up."
Alicia Seiger, Managing Director of the Sustainable Finance Initiative out of the Standard Doerr School of Sustainability said: “Carbon markets have the potential to deliver progress or peril in the pursuit of rapid decarbonization. Having been an entrepreneur building the voluntary carbon market twenty years ago, I’m excited to combine my academic and practitioner perspectives to help leaders today learn from the past and build better futures. BeZero’s leadership has been receptive to my tough love, and I appreciate the opportunity to give it.”