The Carbon Paradox is a genre-bending triumph—blending fiction and deep expertise to illuminate the messy realities of climate finance. By following the journey of three idealistic students, the book makes the intricate world of global carbon markets not just accessible, but emotionally urgent. Drawing on decades of real-world experience (two of the authors are co-founders of South Pole), it brings to life the paradoxes that stall climate action—and the urgent need to act anyway. A vital, timely guide for navigating complexity with courage and hope.

Prof. Dr. Fabrizio Ferraro, Professor of Strategic Management, IESE Business School

We keep asking carbon markets to save the world and then act surprised when they behave like… well, markets. This book exposes the paradoxes but still finds a reason to hope.

René Velasquez, founder of This Week In Carbon

Renat, Steve, and Marco cut through the noise to expose the contradictions at the heart of today’s carbon markets. The Carbon Paradox is a timely call to confront the tensions in our work, while continuing to press forward with urgency and resolve.

Thibault Sorret, CEO of Equitable Earth

Just woke up in the middle of the night and started reading the book. It’s so tempting to spend the rest of the night finishing it—just like Ella, the protagonist, during her night of discovering carbon credits. My first thought was: “I want to translate this into Vietnamese and publish it, because as many people as possible should read it.” Thank you for turning such a seemingly unremarkable topic into something intriguing, thought-provoking, and even poetic.

Dang Hanh, Co-founder and Managing Director at VNEEC