London Stock Exchange Launches First Fund Under New Market for Carbon Credits
Foresight Sustainable Forestry, a U.K.-based investment fund that develops commercial forestland, is the first company to take part in the new voluntary carbon market
3 min
The London Stock Exchange Group PLC on Monday launched the first fund under its new market for carbon credits, which aims to provide capital to green projects and transparency in an opaque area of sustainable finance.
The new market offers a way for companies and investors to purchase carbon credits to offset emissions and meet net-zero commitments. Developers can raise funds through the exchange and use the money on projects to reduce greenhouse gasses. Companies and shareholders, in return for their investments, can receive carbon credits in lieu of cash dividends.
Companies can currently purchase carbon credits through brokers and private-market intermediaries. However, some companies find it difficult to get information about project developers and can struggle to identify specific projects—in areas such as forest protection or renewable energy—that fit their preferences, environmental lawyers said.
By launching the market the London Stock Exchange hopes to make it easier for companies and investors to access information about the projects that generate carbon credits, said Claire Dorrian, head of sustainable finance for the exchange’s capital markets and post-trade divisions. “I think the overarching principle behind all of this is transparency through disclosure,” Ms. Dorrian said.
Demand for credits in voluntary carbon markets is on the rise as more companies make net-zero commitments and position themselves as taking steps to improve the environment. Just under $2 billion in carbon credits were sold in 2021, up from $520 million a year earlier, according to Ecosystem Marketplace, which tracks data on environmental finance. By contrast, mandatory carbon markets in Europe and elsewhere force major polluters to limit their emissions.
Foresight Sustainable Forestry Co. PLC, a London-based investment firm, is the first company to take part in the new voluntary carbon market, the London Stock Exchange said Monday. Foresight invests in developing land for commercial forests, primarily in the U.K.
The company, which listed on the public markets in 2021, expects to raise additional funds in the year ahead using its Voluntary Carbon Market, or VCM, designation, meaning shareholders could elect to receive carbon credits in lieu of a cash dividend, said Richard Kelly, co-head of Foresight. “We’d be looking to attract companies, and ideally companies with science-based, net-zero pledges, to join us as shareholders,” Mr. Kelly said.
For the new market, developers must disclose the percentage of their total assets invested in eligible climate-change mitigation projects. They must also disclose the industry standards they use to certify their projects. Operating companies or investment funds on the exchange are eligible for the voluntary carbon market and must meet all other requirements for the market on which they are listed. London Stock Exchange Group also operates the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indexes and provides financial data.
Companies are facing increasing pressure to disclose climate-related information from regulators and standard-setters across the globe. Finance departments, in particular, are taking on a bigger role when it comes to allocating capital toward carbon offsets and reporting on pollution. “It is becoming more of a financing function, more of a treasury responsibility,” Ms. Dorrian said.
Still, the new market could come with challenges for companies looking to invest. For instance, those interested in crafting a particular narrative about their green investments may find it hard to do so if the credits they receive are tied to several underlying projects, lawyers said.
Underlying demand among companies for purchasing credits through the exchange also remains an open question. “It’s maybe a question of, ‘If you build it, they will come,’” said Chris Staples, a partner at the law firm Linklaters LLP.
Ms. Dorrian, the London Stock Exchange’s head of sustainable finance, declined to provide a specific figure on the number of companies and funds the stock exchange expects to launch on the voluntary carbon market in the coming year. The new market represents a change in how companies currently buy carbon credits, and it takes time for funds and companies to raise new funds, she said.
“It’s going to take, I think, a little bit of time for the market to digest,” Ms. Dorrian said.
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Ever wondered what it takes to create a car like the Maserati? Meet the German designer taking on an Italian icon.
3 min
Klaus Busse would like you to close your eyes and imagine yourself behind the wheel of a Maserati. Picture the GranTurismo, which launched in Australia in 2024. Where do you see yourself? Chances are, Busse suggests, it’s not during the school pick-up or commuting to the office.
“You’re probably on a wonderful road in Tuscany, or Highway 1, or you’re going to a red carpet event,” says Busse, who holds the enviable title of Head of Design at Maserati, the iconic Italian car manufacturer. “Basically, it’s about emotion.”
At the luxury end of the market, the GranTurismo Coupe—priced between $375,000 and $450,000—is designed to transform the driving experience into something extraordinary. For Busse and his team, these “sculptures on wheels” are not just status symbols or exhilarating machines but expressions of pure joy. Their mission is to encapsulate that feeling and translate it into their cars.
“I really feel the responsibility to create emotion,” he says. “We have a wonderful word in Italy: allegria, which is best translated as ‘joyful.’ Our job as a brand is to lift you into this area of joy, perfectly positioned just short of ecstasy. It’s that tingling sensation you feel in your body when you drive the car.”
Even as 60 percent of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, Maserati’s design ethos captures the essence of “everyday exceptional.” Whether navigating city streets or open roads, a Maserati turns heads without being ostentatious or aggressive. “I’ve driven these cars all over the world, and no matter where I go, people smile at me and give a thumbs-up,” says Busse.
Since joining Maserati in 2015, Busse has reimagined and redefined the brand, steering his team through the reinvention of classic models and the transition to electric vehicles. Iconic designs like the Fiat 500, which entered the EV market in 2020, serve as a testament to Maserati’s ability to blend tradition with innovation.
Unlike other luxury car brands, Maserati embraces radical change with new designs every 10 to 15 years. Busse loves connecting with fans who follow the brand closely. He explains that each Maserati model reflects a specific era, from the elegant 35GT of the 1950s to the wedge-shaped designs of the 1970s and the bold aesthetics of the 1980s.
“I often ask fans, ‘What is Maserati for you?’ because their responses tell me so much about how they connect with the brand,” he shares.
Inspired by legendary Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, Busse balances tradition with modernity in his designs. As Giugiaro once told him, “We always do the best in the moment.” This philosophy resonates deeply with Busse, who believes in honouring the past while embracing future possibilities.
Through advances in technology, techniques, and societal trends, Busse ensures Maserati remains at the forefront of automotive design. For him, the creative process is more than just a job—it’s a way to create joy, connection, and timeless elegance.
This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan
Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.
