Winner of the Choice Outstanding Academic Titles of 2010 award.This book is a comprehensive and accessible guide to understanding the opportunities offered by regulated and voluntary carbon markets for tackling climate change. Coverage includes:- An overview of the problem of climate change, with a concise review of the most recent scientific evidence in different fields- A highly accessible introduction to the economic theory and different constitutive elements of a carbon allowances market- Explanation of the Kyoto Protocol and its flexibility mechanisms- Explanation of how the EU Emissions Trading Scheme works in practice- Ongoing developments in regulated carbon markets in the US- Up-to-the-minute coverage of regulated carbon markets in Australia- Developments in New Zealand and Japan- Carbon offsetting and voluntary carbon markets.Combining theoretical aspects with practical applications, this book is for business leaders, financiers, carbon traders, lawyers, bankers, researchers,