The Carbon Advice Group provides individuals, organisations and businesses a much-needed ability to accurately measure the size of their carbon footprint, deliver methods to reduce it as much as possible and then provide a simple, reliable, high quality mechanism to offset the carbon footprint that was left.
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No matter how many tonnes of carbon offsets you purchase from us, you can be assured that we will deliver exactly that amount in CO2 emission reductions from internationally verified carbon offset projects that meet the relevant international standards. That means if you buy 10 tonnes of carbon offsets, that is exactly what we'll deliver you. It is the responsibility of our Board to ensure that these promises are met. Our accounts and project allocations are audited annually by a properly certified third party organisation.
The Carbon Advice Group provides its offsetting service using a range of accredited carbon offsets that meet the relevant international standards, such as VCS (Voluntary Carbon Standard) as well as Certified Emissions Reduction certificates (CERs) provided by the United Nations. CERs are endorsed by DEFRA and guarantee effective global reduction of carbon emissions through regulated projects.
In addition to the purchase of the carbon offset, we can at your request provide you with car windscreen permits, luggage labels, certificates and window permits for homes and businesses so that you can demonstrate your green credentials. We do charge for these separately to ensure that the majority of your investment goes to the carbon offset projects themselves.
We provide a range of tailored advisory services for senior executives, decision makers and influencers on the business opportunities and impact of climate change.
We also work with commercial and financial partners, public bodies and charities to develop products and propositions which create sustainable solutions and provide carbon offsets for retail consumers and SMEs.
Balancing your impact on climate change
Everyday actions like driving a car, flying and even using your computer consume energy and produce greenhouse gas emissions - such as carbon dioxide - which contribute to climate change. You can compensate for your unavoidable emissions by paying someone to make an equivalent greenhouse gas saving. This is called ‘carbon offsetting’.
Should you offset your emissions?
Everybody has a responsibility to reduce their carbon footprint - for example by using public transport more often or turning down thermostats. First you should identify how you can avoid or reduce your emissions - where it is not possible or practical to reduce emissions you can offset them.
Is this a ‘cure’ for climate change?
No – offsetting won’t reverse the effects already caused by greenhouse gases. The environmental harm caused by these emissions cannot be undone. By saving an equivalent amount of greenhouse gas elsewhere, however, we can help to minimise current global emissions.
How do offsetting schemes work?
First you need to calculate the emissions you have produced. Then you buy the equivalent amount in ‘credits’ from emission reduction projects that have made a greenhouse gas saving. These projects may be in another part of the world to where you created the emissions. However, it doesn’t matter where greenhouse gases are emitted in the world – the effect on climate change is the same.
Where does the money go?
Some offsetting schemes may involve planting trees but it can take many years for the environmental benefits to be realised - and it is difficult to measure how much carbon is actually saved. Renewable energy and energy efficiency projects can be good projects to support as these can have immediate benefits to the environment.
The quality of offsetting schemes
When purchasing offsets consumers should look out for the various international standards (VCS, VER+, Gold Standard, CDM CER) to ensure that they receive recognised and reputable credits. CERs are verified by the UN and meet the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol.
To help guide you on the quality of offsetting schemes the government is developing a code of best practice for companies which sell offsets. Carbon Advice Group is working towards the objectives described in this code of practice.
Kyoto Protocol Flexible mechanisms (CDM & JI)
Under the Kyoto Protocol there are two programs by which emissions reductions can be certified – the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation. These programs provide for certification of project-based emissions reductions, and include rules for baselines, additionality, monitoring, reporting, verification and certification.
CDM Gold Standard
The Gold Standard was created to meet CDM (see Kyoto Protocol above) requirements, but has a strong focus on sustainable development benefits and restriction on technology types (no forestry, large scale hydro or energy from waste projects can be included). It provides a consistent approach to assess the contribution of project towards sustainable development, and is endorsed by a number of NGOs.
Gold Standard VER
As for CDM Gold Standard, but specifically for the voluntary sector with simplified validation and verification processes. Aimed at small scale and micro scale projects that would not receive funding under regulatory schemes. The Gold Standard VER has a strong focus on sustainable development benefits.
Voluntary Carbon Standard
The Climate Group, the World Economic Forum and the International Emissions Trading Association are developing this standard for exclusive use on the voluntary market. The standard is based on CDM framework and creates a tradable Voluntary Carbon Unit (VCU).
VER+
The VER+ standard was developed by TÜV SÜD, a Designated Operational Entity (DOE) for the validation and verification of CDM projects. It was designed for project developers who have projects that cannot be implemented under CDM yet who want to use very similar procedures as the CDM. The VER Plus was launched in mid 2007.