Carbon offsets represent reductions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions made to compensate for emissions made elsewhere. They allow individuals and organizations to mitigate their carbon footprint by funding projects that prevent emissions, such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and forestry projects. To be valid offsets, the reductions must be real, additional to what would have occurred otherwise, verified by third parties, and permanent. The Center for Resource Solutions is an organization that works to advance renewable energy and carbon policies and markets through certification programs and conferences.

1. CARBON OFFSETS
MICHELLE MCGINTY
PROGRAM OUTREACH MANAGER
CENTER FOR RESOURCE SOLUTIONS

2. PAGE 2
Nongovernmental Organization
(NGO) creating policy and market
solutions to advance sustainable
energy since 1997.
• Renewable energy and climate policy
• Renewable Energy Markets annual conference
• Green-e® certification for suppliers and users of
renewable energy and carbon offsets in the
voluntary market
Center for
Resource Solutions
© 2020 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.

3. IPCC’s ‘Global Warming of 1.5°C’ Report

4. A certificate representing the reduction of one metric ton (2,205 lbs) of
carbon dioxide (or equivalent) emissions (mtCO2e)
What is a carbon offset?
PAGE 4
© 2020 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
Renewable Energy Industrial Gas Destruction
Energy Efficiency Coal Mine Methane Capture
Fuel Switching Agriculture, Forestry and
Other Land Use (AFOLU)
Landfill Methane Capture Industrial Process Emissions
Livestock Methane Capture Transportation
•Permanence
•Additionality
•Verified
•Enforceable
•Real

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© 2020 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
Carbon offsets must cause additional
emission reductions
Baseline Scenario (BAU)
Offset Project Activity
Emissions Reductions
(1 tonne = 1 carbon offset)
Emissions
(mtCO
2
e)
Time

6. Transportation, Electricity and Industry
Cause the Most Carbon Emissions in the US
mtCO2e

7. Green-e Climate Certification for Carbon Offsets
PAGE 7
Greenhouse gas
emissions
reduction
Carbon offset
project
•Permanence
•Additionality
•Verified
•Enforceable
•Real
Green-e Climate Endorsed
Project Level Standards
Project-level certification
standards © 2021 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.

8. Green-e Climate Certification for Carbon Offsets
PAGE 8
•Additionality
•Permanence
•Real
•Ownership
•Verified
•Enforceable
•Disclosure
Retail carbon
offset Retail
consumer
Retail
certification
standard
Verification Audit
ensures no double
selling or counting
Marketing Audit
ensures clear
consumer
disclosures
© 2021 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.

9. Some Tools to Reduce Carbon
1. Energy Efficiency
2. Renewable Energy
3. Carbon Offsets
• Can only be used for net carbon emission calculations

10. PAGE 10
© 2020 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
Source: Ecosystem Marketplace - Voluntary Carbon Markets Insights, 2018 Outlook and First-Quarter Trends
Carbon offsets are global

11. PAGE 11
© 2020 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
Carbon offsets are global
Source: State of the Voluntary Carbon Markets 2020 – Installment #2: The Only Constant is Change,
Ecosystem Marketplace, Dec 2020

12. Vs.
Co-benefits
Project Impacts
• Carbon Reduction
Project Impacts
• Carbon Reduction
• Social – job creation and training, health benefits
• Environmental – biodiversity, watersheds

13. Sourcing Carbon Offsets
• Calculate Emissions:
• EPA carbon footprint calculator
• https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-
footprint-calculator/
• Full List of Sellers:
• Green-e Website:
• https://www.green-e.org/certified-
resources/carbon-offsets
• Purchase Online:
• Green Mountain Energy
• https://www.greenmountainenerg
y.com/home-energy-
solutions/carbon-offsets/

14. © 2020 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
Contact.
Michelle McGinty
MANAGER, PROGRAM OUTREACH
michelle.mcginty@resource-solutions.org
415.568.4284
www.resource-solutions.org