Carbon Offsets

Carbon offsets are verified reductions or removals of greenhouse gas emissions used to compensate for emissions occurring elsewhere. Offset projects include reforestation, renewable energy, methane capture, and direct air capture. Credits are certified under standards like Verra (VCS), Gold Standard, and the Global Carbon Council. Quality concerns around additionality, permanence, leakage, and double-counting have led to the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) and ICVCM Core Carbon Principles.