Standard for carbon offsetting

The standard which has been released for public consultation will allow consumers to compensate for emissions from activities such as air travel by purchasing equivalent credits from emissions reduction projects.

The standard would be based on the use of certified credits from the established Kyoto market, through sources such as the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism. These credits are backed by an international framework and institutions to ensure that real emission reductions take place, as well as providing a clear audit trail.

However, the scheme has come in for criticism from the National Energy Foundation for excluding locally-based voluntary reduction schemes, such as those upgrading the energy efficiency of local homes. Instead it will only accredit large schemes within the existing regulated sector.

‘Our experience is that when consumers are considering offsets, they want ones which are easy to understand and preferably local or at least substantially UK-based,’ says a statement from the NEF. ‘There are currently many organisations offering these voluntary emissions reductions and any government-backed code needs to include this sector.’