Pluralizing and problematizing carbon finance. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bridge, Gavin; Bulkeley, Harriet; Langley, Paul; van Veelen, Bregje
• Is Part Of: Progress in human geography. Volume 44:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 724
• Page End: 742
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: assetization -- carbon markets -- commodification -- ecosystem services -- low-carbon investment; Human geography -- Periodicals; 304.2
• DOI: 10.1177/0309132519856260
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0309-1325

Abstract

Growing emphasis on finance as key to decarbonization requires social science research that critically attends to the emergent and diverse forms taken by carbon finance. First, we pluralize research into carbon finance, building on existing work to identify four main forms: carbon markets; ecosystem services; natural capital investment; and, capital allocated to low-carbon enterprises and projects. Second, we propose that research should problematize the processes through which carbon is variously translated into financial value. Illustrated with reference to low-carbon investment in electricity generation, our agenda thereby extends from the difficulties of producing carbon-as-commodity to the uncertainties of constituting carbon-as-asset.