Carbon Offsets Workshop

Course Introduction

Carbon Offsets Workshop is an online training course for corporations looking to learn how to implement a carbon offsets strategy. The course begins by explaining how the voluntary offset market works, the standards and regulations associated with it and what buyers need to look for in terms of offset additionality, integrity and permanence.

The courses includes detailed coverage of the many different types of offset available to corporations. Attendees will learn about the key issues involved in a corporate offset strategy including selecting and purchasing the best and most appropriate offsets, verification and what pitfalls to avoid including problems associated with greenwashing .

Delegates will use Excel spreadsheets during the course to undertake practical exercises.

Who should attend: corporations, investor relations, sustainability officers, fund managers and ESG analysts.

Schedule: The course takes place over the following days, comprising two hours teaching on each day from 1:00 to 3:00pm (UK time).

Monday, February 3rd
Wednesday, February 5th
Friday February 7th

Monday, February 10th
Wednesday, February 12th
Friday February 14th

Please note: all sessions are recorded so any that cannot be attended can be taken at a later time.

Course Details

-

Duration:

12 Hours

Location:

Online

Trainer:

D’Maris Coffman

Course Fee:

£2490 + VAT

Register
Course Outline


Introduction to Carbon Offsets

  • What is a carbon offset? definition and purpose

Additionality Standards for Carbon Offsets

  • Climate additionality
  • Financial additionality
  • ESG additionality
  • Innovation and technological additionality

Common Criticisms and Concerns

  • Permanence
  • Double counting
  • Carbon leakage

Role of Carbon Offsets in Corporate Sustainability

Common Types of Carbon Offset Projects and Common Classifications

  • Renewable energy projects
  • Energy efficiency projects
  • Reforestation and afforestation projects
  • Methane capture and landfill gas projects
  • Agricultural land use offsets
  • Carbon Removal Projects (CDR)
  • Project classifications: avoidance, reduction, removal

Criticisms of Carbon Offsets

  • The greenwashing controversy
  • Objections to ESG additionality

Overview of Carbon Markets and Offset Standards

  • Voluntary versus compliance markets
  • Understanding the key players and market dynamics

Offset Standards and Certification for Issuance

  • Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
  • Gold standard
  • Verified Carbon Standard (VCS)
  • Climate Action Reserve (CAR)
  • National carbon standards

Recent revisions to Offset Standards and Future Trends

Corporate Strategies for Carbon Offsets

Developing your Organization’s Carbon Offset Strategy

  • Establishing goals and objectives for off-setting: Geographical and sectoral considerations
  • Integration into Enterprise Carbon Management Systems
  • Alignment with Corporate Sustainability Policies

How to purchase Carbon Offsets

  • What makes for reputable suppliers of carbon offsets
  • Building in-house capabilities to evaluate emerging offset methodologies

Understanding MRV (Measurement, Reporting and Verification)

  • Explanation of MRV Principles
  • The Role of MRV in Carbon Disclosures
    1. Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)
    2. Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
    3. Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)
    4. Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
    • Ensuring alignment of offset purchases with disclosure requirements

Avoiding Greenwashing: Best Practices in Carbon Offsetting

  • Definitions of greenwashing
  • Risks of perceptions of greenwashing to reputational capital
  • Sector-specific challenges for corporate entities
  • What do successful carbon offsetting programs have in common?
  • Importance of corporate communication strategies

Future Trends in Carbon Offset Markets

  • Horizon scanning for new project types
    1. Growth of Technological CDR beyond Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) to
    Direct Air Capture (DAC)
    2. The growth of ‘Blue Credits’ and Ocean Remediation Projects
  • Sunsetting of project types that no longer meet additionality thresholds
  • Role of automation and digitalization in project evaluation and MRV
  • Blockchain implementations and their discontents