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A global initiative, supported by the British government, has introduced a standardized assessment framework for companies’ claims regarding their progress towards internal climate targets and their use of carbon offset credits, as reported by Reuters on June 28. The Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) launched the Claims Code of Practice to instill transparency and confidence in an unregulated market. Many companies have set net zero emission targets, but they acknowledge the need to purchase or generate carbon credits to compensate for emissions they cannot eliminate from their operations. The Claims Code of Practice aims to assist investors in determining the credibility of companies’ claims by establishing public commitments to science-based net zero targets, along with interim targets for achieving them. Different tiers, such as Platinum, Gold, and Silver, are defined based on the percentage of emissions offset through the purchase and retirement of carbon credits.
Despite the potential benefits of carbon offset credits, there is skepticism among environmental groups. They fear that these credits may serve as mere cover-ups for insufficient efforts to reduce actual emissions, and they question the environmental integrity of some offset projects. Mark Kenber, the executive director of VCMI, emphasized the necessity of these new standards to address the confusion and misuse of terms like carbon neutral, climate neutral, net zero, and others. While the standards developed by The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) are yet to be finalized, companies are expected to adhere to the offset standards set by the global airline industry carbon offsetting scheme, CORISA, until the ICVCM standards are established. The ultimate goal is to ensure that companies utilize credits that meet the rigorous criteria set by independent governance bodies, promoting genuine emissions reduction and environmental accountability.
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