Taiyab, N.2016-04-192016-04-192006Markets for Environmental Services 8978-1-84369-582-0 (formerly 1-84369582-0)2426_15502IIED.pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/66920This paper explores the potential for financing small-scale high-benefit sustainable development projects through the voluntary and retail sector of the carbon market. Through a literature review and interviews with offset retailers and buyers from the private sector, the non-profit sector and government, the paper looks at how the voluntary and retail sectors fit into the overall carbon market; who the main buyers and sellers are; what motivates buyers to voluntarily purchase carbon offsets; and how this market can be further developed. The aim is to consolidate information on the voluntary and retail sectors in order to help potential buyers to understand the market and to provide a starting point for those on the supply side to discuss strategies for further developing the market.application/pdfen-USThe material in this paper may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes provided full credit is given to the author and to IIED.Carbon sequestrationMarketing and tradeWorld marketsSustainable developmentPayments for environmental servicesClimate controlMarketsClimate changeCarbon marketsCarbon offsetsClean Development Mechanism (CDM)Market developmentVoluntary marketRetail marketCo-benefitsTechnical report