"Texas Climate & Carbon Exchange" - New Emissions Offsets Mercantile Begins Trading, Announces Global Partnerships, Memberships

Online, June 18, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Texas Climate & Carbon Exchange (TCCX)-an electronic, emissions offsets mercantile dedicated to global trading of carbon offsets and credits-will open for global trading on Thursday at 9:30 am Eastern/8:30 am Central and will be open to member cities, corporations, and utilities globally. TCCX is currently the only exchange based in Texas that exclusively trades in environmental attributes. Membership applications are now being accepted.

Texas Climate & Carbon Exchange also today announces key relationships with Australian and Japanese partners, representatives of which are in Austin this week for the announcement with TCCX executives Melanie Barnes (CEO), Pam Reed (CXO), Jerald Wrightsil (COO), and Jo Reser (General Counsel).

This week, Nathan Rockliff-Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Australia's Carbon Trade Exchange-will be in Austin for meetings and Texas Climate & Carbon Exchange's commencement of global training as part of a worldwide licensing agreement with TCCX-exclusive for Texas and California. Carbon Trade Exchange's proprietary technology offers TCCX members access to a trusted and transparent electronic marketplace for buying and selling carbon credits.

Also in the capitol city for announcements will be Mari Moritsugu, representing the municipality of Beppu in the Japanese prefecture of ÅŒita-a flagship partner for Texas Climate & Carbon Exchange. Ms. Moritsugu also represents The O-Rid Corporation.

The World Bank estimates the carbon trading industry will exceed a market value of $1 trillion by 2025.

About Carbon Credits
A carbon credit represents one ton of carbon dioxide equivalent that is removed, avoided or sequestered. Carbon credits are widely viewed as an existing, actionable answer to reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. The generation and sale of carbon credits funds carbon projects that would not have been feasible otherwise. Carbon credits also help lower the costs of renewable and low carbon technologies as well as assisting in green technology transfer to developing countries.

Benefits of Carbon Exchange Markets
Like other carbon exchange markets trading across the globe-including Texas Climate & Carbon Exchange, International Carbon Exchange, Advanced Global Trading, Green X, The Carbon Fund-TCCX is both a voluntary greenhouse gas reduction and offset trading program, as well as a cap and trade offset trading program. TCCX will help businesses, industries and individuals to understand, measure, and monetize their voluntary emissions reductions efforts-while preparing for potential regulation at the local, statewide, national, and international levels.

About the Carbon Market
The worldwide carbon market can be divided into two: the voluntary market and the regulatory (compliance) market. The voluntary system provides a means for businesses to quantify the true impact of industry's effect on our climate, while realizing the economic advantages of adopting environmentally friendly business practices. Cap and trade has not been legislated yet in many markets; however, competitive branding in this era of social network marketing demands green corporate practices including carbon footprint reduction. In the compliance market, carbon credits are generated by projects that operate under one of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) approved mechanisms such as the Clean Development Mechanism

TCCX supports the trading of both voluntary and compliance credits. It is important to note that carbon credits differ from carbon allowances, yet the term carbon credit is interchangeably used to represent both. Although in most cases they both equal one ton of carbon dioxide equivalent, allowances do not originate from carbon projects but are allocated to companies under a 'cap and trade' system such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme-therefore, they represent the right to emit.

Apply For Membership with TCCX
Cities, corporations, utilities, and individuals seeking to trade on the Texas Climate & Carbon Exchange must apply for membership by registering at www.tccxchange.com/registration.shtml Questions should be directed to Melanie Barnes at [email protected] 512/422.1023

About Carbon Trade Exchange (Sydney, Australia)
Carbon Trade Exchange (CTX) has been established to aid the growth and transparency of the carbon markets and become the world's most inclusive trading platform. CTX maximizes the environmental benefits of carbon trading by bringing unrivalled liquidity and reach to all market participants. CTX offers its members a trusted and transparent electronic marketplace for buying and selling carbon credits. CTX supports the trading of carbon credits that are originated under both the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism (CERs) and independent voluntary standards (VERs). Their platform allows businesses to meet their compliance obligations under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and other cap and trade systems-as well as voluntarily offset residual carbon emissions to become carbon neutral.

About Texas Climate & Carbon Exchange (TCCX)
TCCX is an emissions offsets mercantile dedicated to global trading of carbon offsets and credits for cities, corporations, and utilities. TCCX was established in 2011 as both a voluntary-and a cap and trade compliance-offset trading program. TCCX will help businesses, industries and cities to monetize their voluntary emissions reductions efforts.
+ TCCX will use an Austin-based exchange and will network with cities around the world to create a market for the purchase, sale, and exchange of environmental credits.
+ Commodities traded on the TCCX will include carbon offsets, renewable energy credits, emissions allowances and other environmental attributes.
+ All emissions offsets will receive independent verification.