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What is Carbon Offset Watch?

Carbon Offset Watch is the first independent ranking of Australian offset providers. Completed in August 2008, information and products can change - please check for new information from providers and use our tips for buying offsets.

Total Environment Centre
the Institute for Sustainable Futures
choice
Full Report on Carbon Offset Providers PDF Print E-mail

Click here to download the Carbon Offset Watch Assessment Report

Report Summary:
As public concern about climate change has grown, many individuals and organisations are looking for ways to take action to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions can, and should, be reduced directly by, for example, improving energy efficiency or buying accredited renewable energy (i.e. GreenPower). Where these options have been exhausted or are not cost-effective, an alternative is for consumers to voluntarily pay for an emission reduction elsewhere. This is done by buying and removing (retiring) voluntary carbon offsets from the market so they cannot be re-sold. Often sellers of such credits will retire them from the market on behalf of the offset buyers.The process of buying and retiring carbon offset credits is known as carbon offsetting and a voluntary carbon market has emerged to supply carbon credits for this purpose. There are now more than 50 carbon offset providers operating in Australia.

For consumers, the task of understanding and choosing between the diverse carbon offset products on offer can be daunting. There are many different ways in which a carbon credit can be generated, several competing standards under which those credits can be certified and many different voluntary carbon product and service offerings. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recently raised concerns ‘that consumers may be facing misleading and deceptive conduct associated with this emerging market’.

Responding to these concerns, Carbon Offset Watch is the first independent assessment of the quality of products and services offered in the Australian voluntary carbon market. The assessment is a partnership between the Institute for Sustainable Futures (an academic research institute at the University of Technology, Sydney), the Total Environment Centre (representing environmental interests) and CHOICE (representing consumer interests).

Carbon Offset Watch aims to provide consumers (individuals and businesses) with information to inform their offset purchasing decisions and encourage them to demand quality and transparency in offset retailer services and products. This report should be used in conjunction with other sources of information, including information provided by offset retailers on their products. A list of useful sources of information is provided at the beginning of this report.