Carbon Offset

Carbon offsets are often used as a primary response to carbon emissions. Offsets have been very valuable in helping to raise awareness of carbon emissions and in most cases they deliver tangible environmental and carbon benefits, they are also a key feature of the global cap and trade mechanic to help reduce global emissions.

However the use of carbon offset as a primary response to emissions will not lead to wider reduction of emissions and will not in itself avert the climate change consequences of emissions. They can distract companies from addressing their “business as usual” emissions and achieving reductions from the eliminating of waste and greater operational efficiency. The best use of offsets is as part of a comprehensive carbon management and reduction strategy with reduction as the primary aim.

The Carbon Consultancy supports the use of offsets in this context and works with its clients to ensure appropriate deployment of carbon offsets and communication of their benefits. This does not include the use of offsets to support claims of carbon neutrality.