On the offset road

Defra consults - and Land Rover engages

Wading into what it fears may be the shark-infested waters of voluntary carbon offsetting, Defra is considering the idea of a government-approved standard.

It has launched a consultation on the subject, starting from the view that offsetting is basically to be encouraged. More controversially (and restrictively), however, it seems minded to take a sledgehammer to the problem of making sure there is proper accounting for the carbon savings the offset buys.

Many offset companies currently deal in verified emissions reductions (VERs), often from quite small-scale projects in the developing world, and are unhappy with any suggestion that these are inherently flawed or unreliable. They do not want to be restricted to the officially recognised (and generally larger-scale) ‘clean development’ schemes that produce internationally tradable certified emission reductions (CERs). [See  ‘Scoring with offsets’  for Climate Care’s viewpoint on this.]

VERs from a project promoting clean burning charcoal stoves, for instance, feature in a new offset scheme for Land Rover buyers. This is actually an unusually comprehensive scheme, worked out by the company in conjunction with Climate Care, and overseen by an independent board of governance including top environmentalists.

Land Rover will first of all guarantee that it has accounted for, and properly offset, the carbon emissions incurred in the manufacture and assembly of your shiny new beast. It will also offer, at the point of sale, the opportunity to buy into an offset programme covering the emissions caused by the first 45,000 miles of motoring. No doubt this will be particularly attractive to anyone keen to combat the negative environmental image of the 4x4 enthusiast…

After 45,000 miles, presumably, you are on your own - but hooked on the whole idea.

Which is part of the point of offset schemes, of course; they are “a useful way of engaging the public on the climate change agenda”, in the words of Sally Uren, director of Forum for the Future’s business programme and a member of the Landrover scheme’s board of governance. Speaking at the launch, she went on to point out, however, that “offsetting is a transition mechanism at best, as it will be investment in new technologies that will provide the long-term solutions to climate change. Land Rover recognises this and we look forward to seeing new advances in technology reach the market in the not too distant future.” - Roger East

11 March 2007

Roger East