Carbon Offsets: Growing Pains in a Growing Market
2009
Carbon Offsets: Growing Pains in a Growing Market
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Charles W. Schmidt
Primary Institution: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Hypothesis
Are offset buyers really getting what they paid for?
Conclusion
Many carbon offset projects do not meet the necessary requirements for additionality, leading to concerns about their effectiveness.
Supporting Evidence
- The global market for voluntary offsets tripled from 2006 to 2007, reaching $331 million.
- Many offset projects, such as methane capture from landfills, were already in place before they began selling offsets.
- The Government Accountability Office reported that offsets under the Kyoto Protocol had uncertain effects on greenhouse emissions.
Takeaway
People can pay to offset their carbon emissions, but sometimes the projects they support may not actually reduce emissions as promised.
Potential Biases
There is a risk of double-counting offsets and misleading claims about additionality.
Limitations
The offset market lacks a centralized regulatory framework, leading to potential fraud and misrepresentation.
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