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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Patrick Greenfield

Drop carbon offsetting-based environmental claims, companies urged

Tree planting by a carbon offset company
Tree planting by a carbon offset company. The guidance recommends that firms stop claiming they have ‘cancelled out’ emissions by purchasing offsets. Photograph: Global Warming Images/Alamy

Companies should drop offsetting-based environmental claims and adopt a “climate contribution” model instead, according to a new quality standard.

In a new code of practice, the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) has published guidance on how companies should use carbon credits as part of high-quality corporate action. It recommends that firms should disclose their emissions every year, show they are successfully meeting a science-based target aligned with the Paris agreement, and only use carbon credits to contribute to climate mitigation, moving away from claims that they have “cancelled out” their emissions by purchasing offsets.

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