Guide to Using Carbon Offsets

The document argues that carbon offsets are a tool that, if used responsibly, can accelerate action to meet urgent climate goals. It frames the use of offsets within the context of IPCC targets, which require halving human-caused CO2 emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050 to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

• To maintain a 50% chance of avoiding the worst effects of climate change, the IPCC states that human-caused carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced by half by 2030, with other greenhouse gas emissions also reduced considerably.
• Achieving the necessary climate goals requires CO2 emissions to reach a state of "net zero" by 2050, meaning emissions are balanced with removals.
• Carbon offsets are presented as a tool that can accelerate action to prevent dangerous climate change, provided they are used responsibly as part of broader emission reduction goals.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2019). Guide to Using Carbon Offsets. https://www.sei.org/publications/guide-to-using-carbon-offsets/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Guide to Using Carbon Offsets. 2019. https://www.sei.org/publications/guide-to-using-carbon-offsets/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Guide to Using Carbon Offsets |date=13 November 2019 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/guide-to-using-carbon-offsets/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2019guide, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Guide to Using Carbon Offsets}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2019}, month = nov, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/guide-to-using-carbon-offsets/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }