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Print articleMinister for Climate Change, Biodiversity and Waste Joan Ruddock announced the decision on the publication of the summary and analysis of responses to the draft Code, which was published in January.
Joan Ruddock said:
?While avoiding or reducing our emissions as much as possible has to be the first priority in fighting climate change, we have to be realistic about how much people will do ? and that's where offsetting has an important role to play.
?People need to be sure that when they buy an offsetting product the emissions reductions are actually taking place, which is why we are developing this Code, which will be accompanied by a quality mark for accredited products.
?An overwhelming majority of respondents to the consultation are in favour of a voluntary code for offsetting products to deal with the risk that without recognised standards consumer confidence could be damaged and the potential impact of offsetting reduced.?
However, the offsetting industry offered ?the highest ratio of opponents?, while NGOs were also against the code in principle, fearing that offsets could even encourage polluting activities, promoting the mindset ?I've offset so it's OK to fly/drive.?
Ruddock continued:
?In light of that clear consensus, I am pleased to confirm that we will establish a Code of Best Practice, which we aim to have in place by the end of the year. It will provide clarity and assurance for consumers and encourage the industry to develop further.?
The Code will be voluntary, meaning that offsetting providers or companies that sell offsets alongside their goods and services will be able to choose whether they want to seek accreditation for some or all of their products.
The consultation also demonstrated strong support for including certified credits from the regulated (Kyoto) market. There was a broad range of views on whether other kinds of credits should be included in the Code. Along with a majority of respondents supporting Kyoto-recognised credits, many also felt that the Code should include high-quality Voluntary Emission Reductions (VERs) from the non-regulated market, with a number of suggestions for doing so. This issue will be considered further as Defra develops the Code.
There also appeared to be consensus that the Code should require offsetters to use accurate, consistent emissions figures and factors, however one offset provider opposed benchmarking on the grounds that it was not possible to accurately quantify emissions stating that:
?It is completely impossible to accurately quantify the amount of CO2 that any individual passenger flight will release. It is similarly impossible to calculate how much CO2 an individual tree will absorb over its life.?
One has to wonder how an offset product supplier can justify their products if even they accept that they cannot make the calculation.
Although the offsetting industry were keen not to be over-burdened by administrative requirements, others felt that people who buy offsets should know exactly how their money is being used.
Further decisions on the code's requirements will be announced later in the summer. The final code will be developed in the autumn by the accreditation body working closely with Defra, and in light of stakeholder views. The partial Regulatory Impact Assessment prepared for the consultation will be reviewed and revised, taking into account responses to the consultation.
