1089 Inc., in Partnership with Price Forbes and Oka, Launches Insured Carbon Asset to Transform Carbon Markets
In a bold step toward transforming carbon markets into an investable and institutionally secure asset class, 1089 Inc., in collaboration with Price Forbes and Oka, The Carbon Insurance Company, has announced the launch of a groundbreaking insured carbon asset. The initiative is designed to bring a level of rigor, transparency, and risk management long absent from voluntary carbon markets. By integrating financial architecture, verifiable data integrity, and institutional safeguards, the program is set to redefine how carbon assets are perceived, financed, and traded.
The newly introduced structure offers defined risk coverage for 1089’s CX89 Advanced Fuels carbon assets, backed by Lloyd’s Syndicate 1922, and placed with the expert support of Price Forbes and Oka. At its core, the program delivers institutional-grade protection designed to mitigate performance losses arising from credit degradation between structuring and issuance. This addresses one of the most persistent challenges in carbon markets: the lack of certainty and the associated investment risk that has historically discouraged institutional participation.
Luke Hanley, founder and CEO of 1089 Inc., articulated the foundational philosophy of this framework, emphasizing a shift in perspective regarding carbon markets:
The future of carbon markets is not based on environmental penance. It is based on structured participation that aligns financial incentives with decarbonization outcomes.”
This statement underscores a crucial distinction: carbon markets should be viewed not merely as a moral or regulatory obligation but as a strategic financial opportunity. By structuring carbon assets with embedded protections and guarantees, the 1089 framework allows investors to engage with environmental initiatives in a way that is both financially rational and environmentally impactful.
Chris Slater, founder and CEO of Oka, elaborated on the significance of the initiative:
Voluntary carbon markets previously lacked the necessary financial infrastructure for institutional capital. By incorporating defined invalidation risk coverage directly into the asset, we introduce certainty and balance sheet soundness where it matters most. This represents a decisive step towards establishing carbon as an investable and insurable asset class.”
Slater’s comments highlight a central innovation of the 1089 program: the integration of insurance mechanisms directly within the carbon asset itself. This approach not only protects investors against potential invalidation risks but also increases market confidence, liquidity, and overall stability. In other words, the asset is no longer a speculative instrument; it is a professionally structured financial product with clear risk parameters, verifiable data, and regulatory oversight.
The 1089 framework also includes a sophisticated system of embedded insurance, registration oversight, and immutable accounting. Together, these elements create a robust and transparent structure that enables organizations to address operational fuel-related emissions across the supply chain. By converting these emissions reductions into marketable carbon credits, organizations can translate sustainability efforts into tangible financial incentives. This is particularly relevant for sectors that face significant operational emissions, such as oil and gas, power generation, manufacturing, and logistics, including aviation, marine, rail, and automotive industries.
Hanley explained the practical rationale behind this approach:
“Given the complexity of global carbon markets, it is more practical to finance carbon than the other way around.”
This statement reflects a strategic insight: rather than expecting businesses to generate carbon reductions first and then seek financing, the 1089 structure enables capital to flow upfront. This accelerates the deployment of low-emission fuels and technologies, ensuring that decarbonization projects are both financially viable and scalable.
Spenser Lee, Director of Brokerage at Price Forbes, emphasized the importance of institutional-grade brokerage in the context of carbon markets:
By ensuring Lloyd’s ability to offer built-in invalidation coverage, we create a transparent risk transfer framework that increases liquidity and investor confidence. This is the type of disciplined brokerage approach that will be needed as carbon markets mature.”
The involvement of Lloyd’s Syndicate 1922, a globally recognized insurance underwriter, adds a critical layer of credibility and assurance to the program. By embedding insurance coverage for invalidation risks, the CX89 Advanced Fuels carbon assets address a key barrier to institutional investment: the fear that credits may fail to deliver their promised environmental impact. This guarantee effectively transforms carbon assets from a speculative or compliance-driven instrument into a mainstream financial asset class suitable for institutional portfolios.
The CX89 Advanced Fuels Carbon Assets cover a comprehensive range of emissions scopes (Scope 1, 2, and 3) and apply to multiple industry sectors. These include high-emission operations in oil and gas, data centers, manufacturing, electric vehicle charging networks, and power generation and distribution systems. The assets are also relevant for major transportation sectors—aviation, automotive, marine, and rail—offering organizations a pathway to mitigate emissions across both operational and supply chain activities. By encompassing such a broad spectrum, the framework not only maximizes environmental impact but also opens the door to a diverse investor base, including those with exposure to energy-intensive industries.
Importantly, the 1089 approach also addresses the long-standing issue of verification and data integrity in carbon markets. By integrating immutable accounting and oversight mechanisms, the program ensures that carbon credits are both traceable and auditable. This level of transparency is critical for investors who require confidence that the environmental outcomes promised by carbon credits are real, measurable, and durable.
Overall, the launch of the insured CX89 Advanced Fuels carbon assets represents a transformative step for voluntary carbon markets. By marrying financial engineering, insurance coverage, and rigorous data management, 1089 Inc., Price Forbes, and Oka are creating a blueprint for how carbon assets can evolve into a reliable and investable asset class. The initiative promises to unlock significant institutional capital for decarbonization efforts, accelerate the production and adoption of low-emission fuels, and provide a disciplined framework for scaling global carbon reduction initiatives.
As Hanley summarized, the vision for the future of carbon markets is clear: structured financial instruments, aligned incentives, and robust risk management will be the foundation upon which sustainable environmental and economic outcomes are built. This initiative signals the beginning of a new era where carbon markets are not only a tool for compliance or reputational advantage but a core component of mainstream investment strategies.
