The carbon credit market has seen its ups and downs. For example, the Chicago Climate Exchange operated in USA in 2003–2010, where farmers and ranchers offered carbon credits. Eventually, though it came to a halt when the price of credit to emit one metric tonne of CO₂ fell down to 5–10 cents. To put this in perspective, in 2008, the price of carbon credits peaked at 750 cents per tonne.

In order to protect the interests of farmers from carbon credit price fluctuations, some countries use compensation mechanisms. For example, in 2019, the UK created the Woodland Carbon Guarantee (WCG) system. Carbon farmers admitted to its membership will have access to special auctions where special "options" will be sold, i.e. obligations of certain authorized companies to buy CO₂ emission credits at certain prices to be determined at special auctions. Said obligations will be effective until 2055-2056. At the same time, if a few years later the exchange value of carbon credits turns out to be higher, the member farmers will have the right to withdraw from their deals with WCG.