What is double counting in carbon offsetting? And why is it important?

Avoiding double counting is crucial in credible carbon offsetting.

It’s one of the key markers in what makes a?high-quality carbon offset project?– alongside?avoiding overestimation of impact,?additionality,?permanence,?and?co-benefits beyond carbon.

And high-quality carbon projects are a must in offsetting.?

Why? Well, the question of ‘does carbon offsetting actually work’ is one that comes up a lot. And the answer is yes, but only if offsetting is done via buying carbon credits from these high-quality projects. It’s the only way you can be confident that real, lasting positive impact is being made.

So, double counting – and how to avoid it – is important to understand if you’re buying offsets.

In this article we cover:

• What is double counting in carbon offsetting??
• How do high-quality carbon projects avoid double counting? This includes an explanation of the role of carbon standards and registries.
• Examples of high-quality projects bringing radical transparency to the process of issuing carbon credits: Charm Industrial and UNDO.

What is double counting in carbon offsetting?

In the simplest terms possible, double counting is what it sounds like – counting twice.?

In carbon offsetting, then, double counting refers to when a carbon credit (and the climate impact it represents) is claimed by more than one entity.?

That could be because two entities are claiming the same credit (often this happens due to country level carbon trading), or because the credit is issued multiple times by the issuer (either by accident/error or for financial gain) – we’ll explore the different types of double counting more in a moment.?

Of course, if a carbon credit is claimed by more than one entity then this has huge implications for the carbon benefit made. A business could be buying 100 carbon credits to offset their carbon emissions for the year, but if those credits have already been claimed and accounted for elsewhere, their offsetting is actually having no impact.?

You’ll also hear the opposite term being used – single counting.

Single counting means that a carbon credit has only been bought and claimed by one entity. This is how it should always be, as it means that the carbon benefit which the credit represents (1 carbon credit = 1 tCO2 avoided or removed) is accurate.

Let’s go back to those different types of double counting – double claiming, double issuing, double using.

To continue reading, head to the Lune blog for the full article.