Carbon Offset Notes

21. A carbon offset is a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions (or other greenhouse gas) made in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere.

2. Kyoto protocol: Basically says “we’re going to reduce our emissions by financing emission reduction efforts wherever it is cheapest in the world.”

3. Benefits of carbon offsets: Inexpensive, innovative, tradable.

4. Common types of carbon offsets: Methane collection and combustion, destruction of industrial pollutants, energy efficiency, forestry and land use.

5. Key concepts: Real, Additionality, Permanence, Leakage, Verifiable, Co-benefits.

6. Voluntary offset standards and registries: VCS, Gold standard, VOS, Climate Action Reserve.

4.26.19. Aodan Reddy.