Over the past two decades, the practice of carbon offsetting has been met with both examples of success and failure. Academic literature and media coverage gives a plethora of examples of cautionary tales on these projects…
Prepared by: Timothy Peterson, Colorado State University, Masters of Public Policy and Administration Program
Executive Summary →
In this report, over the past two decades, the practice of carbon offsetting has been met with both examples of success and failure. Academic literature and media coverage gives a plethora of examples of cautionary tales on these projects, but many of the issues with the practice have more to do with the execution than the concept. While not a permanent solution to carbon emissions, carbon offsetting does represent a way to combat this issue in a more immediate way; therefore, it is worth solving the problems with offsetting in order to use it as a tool for sustainable development. Carbon offsetting provides an opportunity for the Global Livingston Institute to further its mission in Uganda by creating avenues for supporting communities. This report will serve as an initial probe into carbon offsetting for GLI, providing research and recommendations on the ethics and efficacy of the practice. A number of components will be included in this document. First, it is important to explore the existing academic literature on the topic of carbon offsetting to provide a critical foundation for the following research and recommendations. An interview with Mr. Miria Opio, an expert in offsetting from Uganda, is also included. Next, a case study section will highlight examples of offset projects and identify common practices. Finally, recommendations are given to serve as a base on which GLI can inform its decisions on engaging in carbon offsetting in the future. GLI's longitudinal approach to research will allow for the findings of this research to be expanded on; future efforts should focus on ways to apply principles from this report to offsetting projects conducted by GLI. The aim of this report is to contribute to the existing conversation on carbon offsetting by providing a new perspective on how to approach the practice in a way that engages communities and promotes sustainable development in the developing world. In any efforts made on this matter, GLI should aim to be the example in how to implement carbon offsetting effectively.
