Carbon Offsetting

Earlier this month the Government published its proposals for establishing a voluntary Code of Best Practice for carbon offsetting, with the aim, among others, to educate consumers about offsetting and its role in addressing climate change, to increase consumer confidence in the growing market and to eradicate cowboy operators.

Some of these operators have been found to sell the same credits several times over, and to operate projects with very limited impact on emissions.

Reception has been mixed. So far four of the country's 61 offset providers have endorsed the scheme but others feel that the proposed criteria are too narrow and will exclude many small but valid projects. And Friends of the Earth warns that the promotion of carbon offsetting schemes is discouraging individuals, industry and governments from taking action to cut greenhouse gases .

FoE director Tony Juniper said: “Carbon offsetting should be a measure of last resort, after steps have been taken to cut emissions. The Government has a role to play in ensuring that offsetting schemes are genuine. But its main role must be to ensure that UK emissions are cut. This is why its proposed new climate change law must commit the UK to making annual cuts in its carbon dioxide emissions.”

FoE recommends that if you do buy offsets, you should always choose a Gold Standard project (this is an existing voluntary certification).

Still on the subject , an article in the Environment Agency publication “Your Environment” says that buying offset has been compared to paying the RSPCA so you can kick your dog!

The same article quotes Forest Research (the Forestry Commission's science department) as saying that the carbon sequestered by half a hectare of woodland would compensate for an average car driver's lifetime of CO2 emissions – but for 30 million drivers you'd have to cover three-quarters of the UK, and to make the UK carbon neutral through tree planting alone we'd need to create 50 million hectares of new forest (about double our land area). So if you are offsetting, examine the options carefully – it's probably best to go for one that does not rely on tree-planting.

* For FoE Press Release on briefing go to http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/carbon_offsetting_18012007.html

There will be some hard copies available at the meeting on Wednesday.

* For more information on the Government's proposals, go to http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/index.htm

where you can see the consultation document (it's 56 pages so there won't be hard copies at the meeting). However you can get a copy from The Public Engagement Team, Climate and Energy: Household and Markets Division, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 3H/17 Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6DB.

* For more on criticisms of the proposals have a look at the Green Business News website: http://green.itweek.co.uk/2007/01/government_offs.html