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Stephen Donofrio
Head of Carbon Markets Intelligence @ OPIS | Founder, GreenPoint | ex Ecosystem Marketplace @ Forest Trends, CDP, CCX, ASU, Boston College, ISOS
Stephen Donofrio is a seasoned professional with nearly two decades of experience in the climate and sustainability sector. His expertise encompasses corporate sustainability, supply chains, responsible investing, environmental markets, international forestry and land use, and clean tech.
Stephen's most recent role was as the Managing Director of Ecosystem Marketplace, a global Voluntary Carbon Markets platform known for its transparency in carbon trading. He has also held key positions at various renowned organizations such as Forest Trends, Chicago Climate Exchange, CDP, United Nations, Arizona State University, and Boston College.
His career is highlighted by a commitment to driving pragmatic and science-focused goals in climate and sustainability through data-driven approaches. He has authored numerous publications, articles, and reports and actively participates in technical and advisory groups.
Stephen's expertise spans voluntary carbon markets, corporate sustainability strategies, climate and natural capital measurements, corporate social responsibility, renewable energy policies, cleantech solutions, remote sensing technologies, arts for environmental project support, and international sustainable development.
Education-wise, he holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing and International Business from Villanova University and has studied International Business, Marketing, Archaeology, Italian Language, and Documentary in Film at Umbra Institute.
Throughout his career, Stephen has held diverse roles such as Head of Carbon Markets Intelligence at OPIS, Managing Director at Ecosystem Marketplace, Forest Finance Clearing House Consultant at the United Nations, Teaching Fellow at Boston College, Faculty Associate at Arizona State University, and Vice President at CDP.
As a thought leader, Stephen Donofrio has contributed significantly to research, reports, and speaking engagements in areas like carbon markets, corporate sustainability, renewable energy, and global environmental initiatives. His expertise, combined with a strong educational background and a history of impactful roles, positions him as a prominent figure in the climate and sustainability landscape.
Highlights
🚀 I’m thrilled to share that I’ve joined OPIS, A Dow Jones Company in a new role as Head of Carbon Markets Intelligence!
📈 Market-based approaches play an important role in economy-wide decarbonization by assigning a price to carbon emissions. Voluntary markets have gained widespread attention in recent years and government policies are increasingly providing greater certainty for the private sector that these prices need to be assessed and accounted for today AND be factored into future planning.
💻 Backed by the company’s committed resources and reputable track record in providing authoritative market news, data and analysis, I’m looking forward to working with the growing all-star team to provide the needed analytics solutions on environmental commodities for market participants across the value chain, building upon an existing strong foundation of pricing reports and news on carbon credits and allowances, low-carbon and renewable fuels, RINs, and more: https://lnkd.in/eZVt9wrk
🤝 I'm excited to build new relationships and continue to work with and support all market participants in this next chapter of my professional journey. Thank you to those of you who I met with these past months, you know who you are, your advice and guidance has been invaluable.
😀 More on this in the days, weeks, and months to come…for now, DM if you’re interested in connecting bilaterally.
PS for any job seekers, we have few new positions open on the team: https://lnkd.in/evTsXy_a
Eileen Patricia Kelly Lisa Street Kylee West Bridget Hunsucker Henry Kronk
#NewBeginnings #CarbonMarkets #Sustainability #Decarbonization #EnergyTransition #Analytics #GreenJobs #GreenFuture #lcfs #rfs #climatepolicy
Will 2023 go down as the year of "limbo" and "maturization" for the VCM?
Today, Ecosystem Marketplace published its full year 2023 VCM transactions values and pricing data + analysis and commentary, which shows a market in waiting with dramatic declines in volumes (-56%), prices (-11%), and values (-61%) from 2022.
Download here: https://lnkd.in/gdA7FYyE
Having worked on these reports for nearly a decade (with this 2024 edition being the first one I've not had a hand in), I know full well that this is just the surface level - there's so much more than what meets the eye with this data, so its important to give the report a full read to understand the data within the context of how a market dogged by critical media coverage worked through a series of "course-corrections" throughout 2023 including, updating methodologies and modules for REDD+ baselines from Verra, awaiting a Scope 3 Claims Code from the VCMI and the Core Carbon Principles from the The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM), just to name a few! Also, it's important to call out that while there were steep drop offs in some projects (e.g., REDD+), others had strong showings (e.g., Agriculture, Energy Efficiency, Fuel Switching, Household Devices and Community).
Again, I urge everyone to read the report for all of the analysis with a specific point to page 17 that discusses "Quality Indicators Affecting Volume, Value, and Price" as well as very helpful market sentiments on page 20 "EM Respondent Views on the VCM in 2023".
Hats off to the team at EM and Forest Trends Association for their careful and continuous annual coverage of the "State of the Voluntary Carbon Market" - important also to acknowledge the hundreds of VCM market participants known as EM Respondents who contributed their confidential data and insights to this report, as well as the oragnization's many donors, supporters, and partners.
Alexander Procton Charlotte Barber Ciro Calderón Laura Weatherer Kate Brandaw Ellis Genevieve Bennett Cheyenne Coxon
