On 17 November 2021, Kevin Dent QCAndrew EvansDanielle Barden and expert, Louis Redshaw presented our Business Crime Team webinar, as part of our Autumn Webinar Series.
 
Business Crime Autumn Series - Carbon Credit Fraud - The Final Word? 
 

Kevin Dent QC, Andrew Evans, and Danielle Barden (disclosure counsel) recently concluded a successful 4-month trial in relation to carbon credit fraud. Louis Redshaw was the prosecution expert in the case.

As a result of COP26, there is currently intense focus on climate change and the use of market-based solutions, such as carbon offsetting, to mitigate carbon emissions and allow companies to achieve carbon neutrality or ‘net zero’ status. This webinar looks at whether this may, however, give rise to increased risks of fraudulent abuse of carbon markets and what can be done to mitigate those risks.

The webinar looks back on what might be considered the ‘first wave’ of carbon credit fraud, between roughly 2010-2015, and examines whether there is the potential for a new ‘second wave’ of more sophisticated, larger-scale fraud.

The first wave included sophisticated ’clearing and settlement’ systems for payments by victims. Is there scope for such systems to be developed or used in the future?

Also, what are the challenges for investigators in terms of embarking on investigations of such conduct and also those seeking to represent individuals accused of wrongdoing in the carbon markets?

The seminar is aimed at anyone involved in Carbon Credit fraud investigations from a legal perspective (whether defending & prosecuting) and also those working within the carbon markets who are looking to keep abreast of potential issues and risks.

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