Vision 2030 Jan. 2012 | Page 94

Software for the Green generation Donnie Maclean, Chief Executive, CarbonRoute Ltd Software is one of the commodities that has become a ubiquitous necessity across all industries. It is also an area in which Ireland has traditionally excelled. One of the most complex areas in which software plays a crucial part is the burgeoning green credits industry. The EU took the lead in this regard, establishing the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) with a view to making certified carbon-emissions reduction credits into a tradable commodity, thus influencing behaviour and enabling emitting companies and governments to meet their regulatory obligations and reduce overall carbon emissions. This is a sector that is set to grow considerably following the international agreement that was reached by world governments in Cancun in late 2010. CarbonRoute has been providing secure software development services in relation to Ireland’s National Emissions Trading platform under the Kyoto Protocol since 2006. Working with the Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Commission under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the company holds a great deal of experience in this niche, but crucial area. The company also developed and own the IT platform used by the Irish government for the world’s first online carbon auction administered within the largest carbon market, the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). It is estimated that the EU ETS will be worth in the region of €610 billion by 2013.