Stefan Gssling

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Voluntary Carbon Offsets pitfalls and potentials
Stefan Gössling CSGT, Western Norway Research
Institute Dept. of Service Management, Lund
University
World Travel Market, London, 14 November 2007
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Aviation IS an issue!

• Globally tourism 4-6 of CO2 emissions,
• But up to 14 if measured as Radiative Forcing
• 75 of total is transport
• 40 of total is aviation
• Per capita 3-4 t CO2/year sustainable (2020)
• Net-growth in emissions gt3/yr
• Technology NOT solving problem

Scott, D., Amelung, B., Becken, S., Ceron, J.-P.,
Dubois, G., Gössling, S., Peeters, P., Simpson,
M. 2007. Climate Change and Tourism Responding
to Global Challenges. United Nations World
Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Madrid, Spain.
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Voluntary Carbon Offsetssystemic preconditions

• Aviation needs to be included in EU
• Emissions Trading System
• Voluntary offsets should not interferewith the
  Kyoto Agreement (i.e. sales of CERs)
• Offsets should not serve the purpose of
  maintaining an unsustainable system the bottom
  line is that we need to fly less!
• If these preconditions met then offsetting is OK
  
• Ideally, every flight should be offset

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Carbon offsetting is big business

• Customers can choose from a variety of projects
  (now 88 providers) that promise to neutralise
  an equivalent amount of emissions by
  energy-saving, renewable energy use, or carbon
  sequestration in trees.
• BUT, approaches taken vary

Source Gössling, S., Broderick, J., Upham, P.,
Peeters, P., Strasdas, W., Ceron, J.-P. and
Dubois, G. 2007. Voluntary carbon offsetting
schemes for aviation efficiency and credibility.
Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 15(3) 223-248.
See also www.carbontradewatch.org
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Looking for the cheapest way to offset
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Varying standards

• Calculation order of magnitude difference
• Use of reduction units EUAs, CERs, ERUs, VERs,
  NVERs CERs VERs also as Gold Standard
• Annual reports, technical reports seldom
  available
• Additionality UNFCCC criteria seldom met
• Ethical issues child labour acceptable?
• Often interfering with development aid?

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At stake customer confidence and future markets
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What are the characteristics of a credible carbon
offset proposition?

• Be suspicious of claims to be carbon neutral
  what you do is carbon compensation!
• The principle of additionality is critical
• Verification crucial, Gold Standard VERs have
  highest degree of credibility make sure that
  what you buy are GS VERs (some providers pretend
  to offer these!)
• Choose providers combining sustainable
  development and carbon offsets
• The cheapest solution may not be good enough!