[Washington, DC - October 5, 2022] - On October 3, 2022, The Environmental Markets Association welcomed its highest attendance in 15 years to Baltimore, MD for their 26th Annual Meeting. Participants from all sides of environmental markets convened at The Baltimore Waterfront Marriott for three days of networking, idea sharing and learning.

EMA Chairman Jack Velasquez of Marex Spectron kicked off the meeting with insight and inspiration in his opening remarks:

EMA is not the new kid on the block. We have a deep and rich twenty-six year history with our members. We know this market best. We helped design a lot of these markets by either working with policymakers, or working with program administrators. EMA is in a unique and integral position to unify and amplify our voices with our marketing principles and expertise.

The need for education is greater now than ever before. EMA is all about our mission - to promote market-based solutions to help combat our environmental challenges. We strive to achieve this through sound public policy, industry best practices, effective education and training. And finally, we promote member collaboration. Even though we know how to have a good time, EMA and its members take our mission seriously. 

There are massive advantages to well designed, policy driven environmental models. They are accountable. They are enforceable, and their success is proven. 

Look at the growth of renewable generation. Over the course of the last 26 years, there were a few megawatts of California futures. Look at some of our cap and trade programs. CCA is and RGGI, it's a success, and it's going to continue to get more success and we are going to lower our emissions. 

That's what it's all about. It's not just the environmental benefits. There are massive social benefits, like job creation, thanks to the IRA. We're going to have a lot more work in domestic manufacturing right here in the United States of America. We're gonna bring it back, it's going to help our economy. 

Overall, the list goes on and on. The future is incredibly bright and we want you to have a role in EMA. Let's promote this mission and use the association as a platform to have your voice heard. And whether you're an energy trader or a broker, an academic or a policymaker, a sustainability officer working at a corporation, the EMA can equip you with the right market principles that will guide you in your mission and promote a properly well designed environment. It's really that simple. And this is how we're going to achieve a clean and reliable energy infrastructure.

The energy and engagement continued over the next two days with open and lively discussions on Voluntary and Compliance RECs, Voluntary and Compliance Carbon, LCFS, and 24/7.

Speakers included experts from the following organizations Constellation, LS Power, Lightsource bp, Intercontinental Exchange, 3Degrees, Center for Resource Solutions, STX, IETA, IncubEx, TransAlta, ClearBlue Markets, Mercuria, Verra, S&P Global Platts, WM, SRECTrade, M-RETs, Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, AES, CEBI, WattTime, and LevelTen

Click here to listen to the audio of The Opening Remarks.

EMA members now have access to the recordings from the full event at the following link: 2022 EMA Recordings.