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Carbon offsetting: regulating a new initiative

As individuals and businesses increasingly explore the environmental benefits of carbon offsetting, the government plans to introduce a Code of Best Practice to regulate the emerging market.

A consultation, which opened in January 2007, closed on April 13th and the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs will now work on finalising the code for the provision of carbon offsetting to UK customers.

Writing exclusively for politics.co.uk, ministers and opposition parties explore the issues surrounding carbon offsetting. The climate change minister Ian Pearson introduces the government's plans to regulate the industry and why this is neccesary to help consumers make informed choices about their actions. Lib Dem environment spokesman Chris Huhne explains why carbon offsetting has become so popular, and what is needed to make it a key part of the country's action on climate change. And the Green party's principal speaker Dr Derek Wall provides an alternate view, highlighting the shortcomings of carbon offsetting and the need for more radical action.

Responses 

  • Carbon offsetting offers a realistic solution

    The environment minister Ian Pearson explains why the government is working towards a code of best practice on carbon offsetting and why it believes offsetting can be an effective part of a realistic strategy to combat climate change.More...

  • Offsetting has 'very limited role'

    The Green Party's principal speaker Dr Derek Wall highlights the shortcomings of carbon offsetting, concluding it can have only a very limited role in the fight against climate change. He argues any system will need to be regulated by strong legislation to ensure companies do offset carbon emissions as promised.More...

  • Reduction not offsetting is the key

    Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Chris Huhne says carbon offsetting must be more than just a fashion statement if it is to have a real positive effect on climate change. He argues the long-term objective must be to reduce carbon emissions.More...

Responses 

  • EQUICLIMATE

    EBICo is a not-for-profit social enterprise. We offer fairer prices to all domestic energy consumers in the UK. More...

  • MyCarbonDebt

    Practical solutions are needed which commit funds to specific and measurable climate improving activities, like carbon offsetting. More...

  • Erasemyfootprint

    Erasemyfootprint welcome a proposed code of practice for carbon offsetting but feel that the current proposals are too restrictive.More...

  • The National Forest

    The National Forest is being created across 200 square miles of central England. It is a bold project which saw woodland cover at only six per cent at the outset, compared with more than 17 per cent now.More...

  • British Cement Association

    The UK cement industry has put sustainable development at the heart of its operations. More...

  • Treeflights

    At Treeflights we are directly engaged in the substantive activity of planting trees for people who are choosing to fly and so we are looking forward to hearing the results of the Defra consultation. More...

  • Federation of Tour Operators

    Barely a day passes without a strongly worded article appearing in the press, demanding that some form of taxation be introduced on aviation to address its environmental impacts.More...