Title: Can sustainable investing generate carbon credits?

Authors: João Zambujal-Oliveira

Addresses: Centre for Management Studies (CEG-IST), Department of Engineering and Management (DEG), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Technical University of Lisbon (UTL), Av. Professor Cavaco Silva, 2780-990 Porto Salvo, Portugal

Abstract: In a world where greenhouse gases (GHG) carry a price, organisations can create financial instruments that are tradable on the carbon market by investing in projects that reduce GHG emissions. The purpose of this study is to critically analyse an investment project from EcoSecurities to mitigate the emissions of methane from a coalmine located in China|s Sichuan province. This project generates carbon credits that are later sold to governments and organisations under the Kyoto Protocol. In order to evaluate this investment, we conducted an analysis centred in its net present value, and we take into consideration a set of external variables and the financial and economic situation of EcoSecurities. This study concludes that EcoSecurities project investment, since project|s net present value is positive, it has a relevant impact on EcoSecurities strategy and improves the company|s financial situation as it increases revenues and improves assets using efficiency.

Keywords: investment analysis; carbon credits; carbon market; net present value; NPV; greenhouse gases; GHG; carbon trading; methane emissions; CHina; coal mining; Kyoto Protocol.

DOI: 10.1504/GBER.2012.044475

Global Business and Economics Review, 2012 Vol.14 No.1/2, pp.5 - 29

Published online: 29 Jul 2014 *

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