Barclays Plc is re-entering the carbon trading market after a decade, signifying a significant shift in its stance. The bank has appointed Oliver Morning, a veteran of Shell Plc, as the head of carbon and environmental products trading, marking a change in direction. The renewed interest in carbon trading among commodities desks reflects the changing landscape of financial markets driven by stricter climate laws, emission disclosures, and net-zero strategies. Companies are increasingly turning to carbon credits to offset emissions they cannot yet reduce effectively, creating opportunities for financial institutions to facilitate transactions in the unregulated voluntary market. This shift underscores the growing importance of carbon markets in accelerating the transition to net zero.

Source: Carbonherald