An expert resource for understanding carbon credits and offsets to help you build smarter, more effective greenhouse gas mitigation strategies.
The Offset Guide Second Edition is here.
Carbon credits are a tool, when used appropriately, to accelerate global climate action. Learn how.
The world has until 2030 to cut human-caused carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in half to maintain a 50% chance of avoiding the worst effects of climate change.1 By 2050, CO2 emissions will need to reach “net zero” globally – where emissions are in balance with removals2 – to sustain this chance. Such mitigation will require worldwide action by national and local governments, along with businesses and civil society.
Companies and organizations will need to use many tools to achieve ambitious mitigation targets. Carbon credits are one of these tools. With so many options and widespread misinformation, it’s easy to feel uncertain about making the right choices. It can be frustrating and overwhelming to distinguish credible from non-credible carbon credits.
OffsetGuide.org exists to take some of the guesswork out of carbon credits, empowering you with the knowledge to make a difference.
This guide is for government officials, corporate sustainability professionals, students, academics, technical experts, and individuals interested in using carbon credits to contribute to global mitigation efforts, compensate for their emissions, or as an educational resource. As a companion to the PDF guide, this website also explains the role that purchases of other environmental commodities, like renewable energy certificates (RECs) and emission allowances, can serve in claiming avoided emissions or enhanced removals.
We’ve broken down the carbon credit landscape into five practical sections designed to empower your decision making:
Understanding Carbon Credits
Learn the basics about credits to understand how they relate to global climate goals.
Using Carbon Credits
Learn about considerations and issues around using carbon credits, and responsible credit claims (e.g., for offsetting).
Carbon Credit Quality
Learn how to identify high-quality carbon credits.
Carbon Credit FAQ
Dive into common questions and criticisms about the voluntary carbon market.
Clean Energy Purchasing FAQ
Explore other topics and frequently asked questions about policy tools to claim low-carbon clean energy.
Offset Guide leverages the combined expertise of two of the most trusted names in environmental research and greenhouse gas management. Download and explore the guide and take confident steps toward impactful Greenhouse Gas offsetting.
Download the Guide
The Carbon Offset Guide isn’t just another resource – it’s the result of more than 15 years of research and expertise by two globally recognized organizations, the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute (GHGMI).
Together, these institutions have pioneered advancement in carbon credit research, environmental policy, and greenhouse gas (GHG) management. Here’s how their expertise shapes this guide:
SEI: A global leader in bridging science and policy for sustainable development, SEI’s work spans climate, water, air, and land-use issues. SEI engages with decision-makers and stakeholders worldwide to promote long-term, impactful change. | GHGMI: An international authority in greenhouse gas accounting and management, GHGMI sets the standard for training, education, and professional expertise in emissions measurement, reporting, and verification. |
Learn more about the experts behind OffsetGuide.org
1Under the Paris Agreement, the international community has established a goal of limiting global warming to “well below 2°C” by 2100, and to pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C. In a 2018 report, the IPCC summarized current modeling of what will be required to achieve the latter goal, noting that very substantial CO2 reductions will be required by 2030. See: IPCC (2018).
2CO2 can be removed from the atmosphere through natural sequestration (e.g., in trees, soils, or the ocean) or through artificial means (e.g., using direct-air capture technologies, which are still in their infancy).
Whether you’re just starting or refining your approach, The Carbon Offset Guide provides the clarity you need to make informed, impactful choices. Reach out with any questions you may have about the guide.
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