Experts discuss current challenges of private carbon offsetting

How can voluntary carbon offsetting foster the sustainability of lifestyles and economic models?, asked a conference hosted by the Federal Environment Agency on 10 November in Berlin. adelphi presented a new analysis of the voluntary carbon offsetting market and provided organisational support.

In a 2013 study, the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) came to the conclusion that achieving carbon-neutrality in Germany by 2050 was technically feasible. In addition, more and more people are paying attention to their carbon footprint and showing readiness to account and compensate for the climate-damaging emissions that they cause.

The conditions are ripe and auspicious. What will be decisive is the question of practical implementation: what can consumers and the private sector do to render the economy carbon-neutral? What role can (or must) carbon offsetting play – can it be a useful addition to existing preventing and reduction strategy? And what can states do to ensure that voluntary carbon offsetting becomes an integral part of sustainable lifestyles and economic models? These were the key questions at a conference that took place on the 10th of November at the Federal Environmental Agency. Under the title of "Voluntary offsetting payments and sustainable lifestyles: can they work together?", voluntary carbon offsets brokers and other companies, NGOs, research institutions and public sector representatives gathered in Berlin to share experiences and to catch up with the very latest research.

Carbon offsetting does not undermine sustainable consumption, but market transparency needs to be increased

Presentations and workshops focused on current empirical results and findings. In this context, adelphi presented a study done jointly with sustainable examining the German market for voluntary carbon offsetting, which will be published in December.

Other studies provided insight into the attitudes of German, Austrian and American consumers towards carbon offsetting. It became clear that people who compensate for the harmful effects of their patterns of consumption also maintain a sustainable lifestyle in other ways. This means that carbon offsetting is far from being understood as a means of seeking redemption. In fact, none of the studies reported any displacement effects towards sustainability.

The studies also showed that potential buyers of carbon offsets tend to be rather poorly informed, and that consumers find the market for carbon offsetting confusing. Against this background, participants held intense discussions on how a state certification labelling scheme can consistently ensure the maintenance of high quality requirements and thus make the carbon offsetting market more transparent. As a result, it was agreed that a certification label would be desirable in practice. The Federal Environment Agency took on this feedback and announced its intention to push on with consideration of these issues.

adelphi assisted the Federal Environmental Agency with the hosting of the conference. Alongside presentation of the market analysis, adelphi also put together several position papers which served to prepare and structure the conference. adelphi is now summarising the studies and outcomes; conference proceedings will be available online in the near future.