Comment Log Display

NO to international offsets in California's Cap-and-Trade


The inclusion of international forest sector-based offset credits
within California Cap-and-Trade to cover up to 8 percent of
emissions reduction goals would be a major mistake for the
following reasons. 

* False solution to climate change. The net effect of a forest
carbon offset on greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere is
at best zero. If emissions are reduced in one place, but through
the sales of carbon credits emissions are allowed to continue
somewhere else these emissions cancel each other out. Forest
offsets are a cost containment mechanism that reduces the impact of
A.B. 32 goal of reducing global warming pollution.

* High levels of vulnerability and uncertainty. Forests are
vulnerable to the impacts of climate change itself as well as
international forest offset projects experience difficulties in
constructing baseline, determining additionality, assessing
leakages, monitoring implementation, and measuring real carbon
stocks and emission reductions. 

* Existence of domestic offsets. California's Cap-and-Trade program
already incorporates the use of domestic carbon offsets through
forestry practices, livestock biogas control, and destruction of
ozone-depleting substances. If regulated industries desire to
offset some of their emissions, they can do it even currently.
Forest offsets are ineffective in reducing net greenhouse gas
emissions, but at least domestic carbon offset projects can
economically and environmentally benefit Californians.

* Negative consequences. The inclusion of international carbon
offsets in California's Climate Policy is very likely to (i)
increase pollution in California; (ii) potentially exacerbate
fraud, corruption, large-scale land acquisitions, human rights
violations and negative environmental consequences; (iii) encourage
the international institutionalization of an ineffective and
damaging practice; and (iv) help divert attention away from the
urgent need of a sharp and immediate reduction of global greenhouse
gas emissions at source. 
 
Absolute equality and fairness may never meet because people are
all so different in their perceptions and interests, but the
California Air Resources Board has the responsibility to
effectively represent the will of the people who will bear the true
economic, environmental and social costs of international offsets.


References attached.