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Carbon Offsets Demystified. Mark Chadwick, CEO Carbon Clear Limited. Agenda. Introduction to Carbon Clear Background to offsets: What is a carbon offset? Why are they needed? How are they made? Lifecycle of a carbon offset credit Offsets in a carbon management programme.
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Carbon Offsets Demystified Mark Chadwick, CEO Carbon Clear Limited
Agenda • Introduction to Carbon Clear • Background to offsets: • What is a carbon offset? • Why are they needed? • How are they made? • Lifecycle of a carbon offset credit • Offsets in a carbon management programme
Introduction to Carbon Clear • Mark Chadwick • CEO, Carbon Clear Limited • Carbon Clear Limited • Corporate climate change strategy • Carbon footprint measurement • Internal emission reductions • Carbon offset credits
Background to offsets … what, why and how
What is a carbon offset? • Carbon credit • An instrument representing a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, usually denominated in metric tonnes • Carbon offset • Using a carbon credit to ‘offset’ and emission that has happened or is about to happen • Primarily found in the compliance markets such as the European Emissions Trading Scheme (soon CRC) • Increasingly used by other businesses to achieve reduction goals or demonstrate their green credentials
Why are they needed? Under performance Over performance
Why are they needed? • Offsets allow countries or companies who are targeted to reduce their emissions to trade between each other • Achieve compliance at lowest cost by using market forces to allocate capital • GOAL: Use market forces to price an externality; in this case greenhouse gas pollution
How are they made? • Permits to pollute • Issued by a regulating body to place a cap on emissions • Emission reduction performance impacts supply • Allocations usually reduced year on year • Permits have limited use outside of the compliance sphere • E.g. EUA • Emission reduction projects • Derived from projects that lie outside of the compliance sphere • Based on emission reductions from projects, e.g. wind farms or industrial efficiency improvements • Issued based on the reduced emissions after a project versus emissions prior to the project • E.g. CER, ERU, VER
Carbon Credits How are they made?
Lifecycle of a carbon credit … a real life example
At Carbon Clear we invest in projects that improve living standards in developing countries, while providing global climate benefits. Carbon offset projects: Our approach • Verifiable emissions reductions • ISO 14064-2 reporting • Third-party verification • Additionality • CDM measurement rules • Sustainable livelihoods • DfID evaluation criteria • Materiality • Client’s contribution makes a real difference • Diverse portfolio • Minimum 80% clean energy
Size: 100K tCO2e Providing support to a local business that converts two-stroke mini-taxi engines to modern fuel-injection technology. More efficient engines reduce carbon emissions and ambient air pollution. Monitoring: Project created and managed by our local partner Envirofit. Project will be submitted to the CDM Executive Board with independent verification by a UN Designated Operational Entity. Why we like it: High climate change reduction potential New business opportunities for local entrepreneurs Improving air quality in cities Reduced fuel costs for taxi drivers Saving more than the environment:Mini-Taxi Engine Retrofits in the Philippines
How are they made? • Compliance Market • Trades CERs / EUAs • European trading scheme • 700m tonnes per annum • €23 per tonne Sale Sales Verification Monitoring Sales Carbon Credit Development Validation Start • Voluntary Market • Trades CERs / VERs • 23m tonnes worldwide in 2006 • €8-10 per tonne Contract Concept
Yamaha RS 100T Kit Kit Components Before After Majority of components manufactured in the Philippines
Emissions and Fuel Consumption Comparison Carbureted 2 - Stroke Hydrocarbons Carbureted 4 - Stroke Direct Injected 2 - Stroke Carbon Monoxide Fuel Consumption * SAE Technical Paper No. 2001-01-0010 ** Envirofit Draft Paper Publication at BAQ – Asia Conference 2006 *** Envirofit 2006 Field Test Results (5/06)
Monitoring • Each retrofit includes an engine management computer which monitors fuel flow • Lower levels of fuel consumption mean lower carbon emissions • Quarterly reports are submitted to Carbon Clear • Annual 3rd party verification of emissions reductions provides actual carbon credit numbers
Offsets in a carbon management programme … where and how they should be used
Offsets in their place • Reduce first, then once you’ve reduced all you can, consider offsetting for unavoidable emissions • Is this right?
Problems with approach • How long does it take to reduce all that you can? • Lowers return on carbon reduction investments • No penalty for not reducing emissions • Leads to a higher cost of carbon reduction • No help for less developed nations • Leaves a solution on the table
An alternative view • Carbon management: • Calculate carbon footprint • Develop a reduction plan • Offset emissions from previous year • This approach: • Offsets truly unavoidable emissions • Creates an additional financial driver • Pollution is no longer free!