What to look for in a good carbon credit in the voluntary carbon offset market

Not all carbon offsets are created equal

Not all carbon offsets are created equal. There are a range of different technologies, schemes and added social benefits, matching a wide range of budgets.

When purchasing any product or service, the provider will always promote the benefits and avoid highlighting the negatives. We must be wary of this when purchasing carbon offsets of any kind and we must demand validation and good quality robust data.

But, on the other hand, studies and investigations which scrutinise carbon offsets often start out with the purpose of identifying problems and, as such, are always likely to find them. We must also take these with a pinch of salt and always scrutinise them in return.

When we buy a product online, we review its price and specification. We determine if it will meet our needs and if it is good value for money. We then scroll down and read the review section. There will be many different reviews from 5 stars down to 0 stars. There will be people with very strong views that the product was exactly what they were looking for. There will be people who hated it. Often, we only see the polarising views.

The truth is somewhere in the middle. So we make a decision based on the balance of information provided to us.

The same goes for voluntary carbon offsets. Ultimately, we must conduct our own due diligence, to a depth and standard that is appropriate for our own circumstances.

That is not to say the carbon offset providers cannot do better. The market is so complex with many types of projects using different methodologies. New carbon marketplaces and certification standards are being launched all the time, with very little governance or regulation.

Carbon offset developers and brokers need to be far more transparent with the pros and cons of projects; and simplify reports to allow the wider public to truly understand and engage with the market. There is a fine line between ‘spin’ and misleading people and offset providers need to stay on the right side of that threshold.

The publication also took the step of naming high-profile organisations that have previously purchased these credits. Regardless of whether the claims are holistically true, the damage to those brands is already done. Social media allows stories to spread fast before a business has an opportunity to respond. That is why it is so important that organisations ensure they are choosing the right offset provider, with documented evidence on why projects have been chosen.