Demystifying Carbon Offsets: How Individuals, Organizations, and Communities Can Reduce Net Carbon Emissions Now

This video will coach you through the fundamentals of carbon offsets, including when and how to utilize carbon offsets, how to determine high-quality offsets, and what sort of claims should be made about offset purchases. Whether you’re thinking about purchasing carbon offsets for your own personal emissions or investigating options for your business or community, this webinar will provide the answers you need to get started.

The webinar will cover:

• Basics of carbon offsets
• Definition of a carbon offset
• Types of carbon offsets
• Identifying quality offsets
• Green-e® Climate certification

Superior Essex Communications, an industry leader of communications cable products, will then add the perspective of a business leveraging Green-e® Climate carbon offsets and Terrapass, a carbon offsets retailer, will share details around the carbon offset market and the types of projects available.

Speakers:

Annie Bevan, Global Head of Sustainability, Superior Essex Communications
Michelle McGinty, Manager, Program Outreach, CRS (Moderator)
Sam Telleen, General Manager, TerraPass

Transcript

1. DEMYSTIFYING
   CARBON OFFSETS
   How Individuals, Organizations and
   Communities Can Reduce Net Carbon
   Emissions Now
   MICHELLE MCGINTY
   PROGRAM OUTREACH, SENIOR MANAGER
   CENTER FOR RESOURCE SOLUTIONS
   SAM TELLEEN
   GENERAL MANAGER
   TERRAPASS
   ANNIE BEVAN
   GLOBAL HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY
   SUPERIOR ESSEX COMMUNICATIONS
   

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2. Nongovernmental Organization (NGO)
   creating policy and market solutions to
   advance sustainable energy since 1997.
   • Expert assistance resource
   • Renewable energy and climate policy
   • Clean Energy Accounting Project (CEAP)
   • Renewable Energy Markets annual conference
   • Green-e® certification for suppliers and users of
   renewable energy, carbon offsets and biomethane
   in the voluntary market
   About Center for Resource Solutions
   PAGE
   2
   © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
   

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3. A certificate representing the reduction of one metric ton (2,205 lbs) of
   carbon dioxide (or equivalent) emissions (mtCO2e)
   What is a carbon offset?
   PAGE
   3
   © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
   Permanence The emissions reductions must last in perpetuity; they cannot be reversed.
   Additionality The carbon offset project must be “beyond business as usual.” In other words, it has
   to represent a change in behavior spurred by buyers in the offset market in order for
   those buyers to claim to be reducing carbon emissions equivalent to reductions they
   would undertake themselves.
   Verified Emission reductions must be demonstrated to have occurred in the amount
   reported, with supporting evidence, and project performance must be consistently
   and credibly monitored by a third-party verifier.
   Enforceable Emissions reductions must be backed by contracts or legal instruments that define
   their creation and ensure exclusive ownership.
   Real Carbon offsets must not be artifacts of incomplete or technically flawed accounting.
   From a global perspective, there’s a real reduction of emissions in the amount
   specified.
   

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4. PAGE
   4
   Carbon offsets must cause additional
   emission reductions
   Baseline Scenario (BAU)
   Offset Project Activity
   Emissions Reductions
   (1 tonne = 1 carbon offset)
   Emissions (mtCO2
   e)
   Time
   

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5. A certificate representing the reduction of one metric ton (2,205 lbs) of
   carbon dioxide (or equivalent) emissions (mtCO2e)
   What is a carbon offset?
   PAGE
   5
   Permanence The emissions reductions must last in perpetuity; they cannot be reversed.
   Additionality The carbon offset project must be “beyond business as usual.” In other words, it has
   to represent a change in behavior spurred by buyers in the offset market in order for
   those buyers to claim to be reducing carbon emissions equivalent to reductions they
   would undertake themselves.
   Verified Emission reductions must be demonstrated to have occurred in the amount
   reported, with supporting evidence, and project performance must be consistently
   and credibly monitored by a third-party verifier.
   Enforceable Emissions reductions must be backed by contracts or legal instruments that define
   their creation and ensure exclusive ownership.
   Real Carbon offsets must not be artifacts of incomplete or technically flawed accounting.
   From a global perspective, there’s a real reduction of emissions in the amount
   specified.
   © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
   

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6. Project Types
   PAGE
   6
   Renewable Energy Industrial Gas Destruction
   Energy Efficiency Coal Mine Methane Capture
   Fuel Switching Agriculture, Forestry and
   Other Land Use (AFOLU)
   Landfill Methane Capture Industrial Process Emissions
   Livestock Methane Capture Transportation
   © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
   

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7. PAGE
   7
   Greenhouse gas
   emissions
   reduction
   Carbon offset
   project
   •Permanence
   •Additionality
   •Verified
   •Enforceable
   •Real
   Green-e® Climate Endorsed
   Project Level Standards
   Project-level certification
   standards
   Green-e ® Climate Certification for Carbon Offsets
   © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
   

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8. Green-e® Climate Certification for Carbon Offsets
   PAGE
   8
   •Additionality
   •Permanence
   •Real
   •Ownership
   •Verified
   •Enforceable
   •Disclosure Retail carbon
   offset Retail
   consumer
   Retail
   certification
   standard
   Verification Audit
   ensures no double
   selling or counting
   Marketing Audit
   ensures clear
   consumer
   disclosures
   © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
   

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9. Carbon offsets can be utilized across all
   scopes of emissions
   PAGE
   9
   Source: WRI/WBCSD Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard (PDF)
   © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
   • [Scope 1] Carbon Offset Natural
   Gas products
   • [Scope 3] Airline selling carbon
   offsets with tickets
   • [Scope 3] Online retailer
   purchasing carbon offsets for
   customer shipping
   Carbon offsets can
   be bundled with
   products/services
   

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10. Some Tools to Reduce Carbon
    1. Energy Efficiency
    2. Renewable Energy
    3. Carbon Offsets
    • Can only be used for net carbon emission calculations
    Carbon Neutral
    GHG emissions released to the atmosphere have
    been reduced or avoided and the remaining ones are
    compensated with carbon credits. This should
    include all scopes of emissions.
    Green-e® Marketplace soon to
    certify carbon neutral products
    © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
    

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11. Carbon offsets reporting
    PAGE
    11
    © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
    Companies must set targets based on emission reductions
    through direct action within their own boundaries or their
    value chains.
    Ø Carbon offsets are only considered to be an option for
    companies wanting to finance additional emission
    reductions beyond their science-based target (SBT) or
    net-zero target.
    Direct emissions must be reported. Carbon offsets can be
    reported additionally, outside of the direct scopes of emission.
    

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12. PAGE
    12
    Other Considerations
    • Co-Benefits – additional benefits outside of carbon reduction.
    • Location – can source globally but some buyers have location
    preferences.
    • Issuance/Vintage – no vintage requirements for carbon offset
    claims, but some buyers prefer newer projects.
    • Price – large variance in price based off of cost of the project
    and supply/demands.
    © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
    

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13. Vs.
    Co-benefits
    Project Impacts
    • Carbon Reduction
    Project Impacts
    • Carbon Reduction
    • Social – job creation and training, health benefits
    • Environmental – biodiversity, watersheds
    © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
    

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14. PAGE
    14
    Other Considerations
    • Co-Benefits – additional benefits outside of carbon reduction.
    • Location – can source globally but some buyers have location
    preferences.
    • Issuance/Vintage – no vintage requirements for carbon offset
    claims, but some buyers prefer newer projects.
    • Price – large variance in price based off of cost of the project
    and supply/demands.
    © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
    

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15. PAGE
    15
    Source: Forest Trends’ Ecosystem Marketplace. Closing the Carbon offsets Issuance & retirements Gap, 2021 Quarter
    1. Washington DC: Forest Trends Association, April 2021.
    Carbon offsets are global
    © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
    

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16. PAGE
    16
    Other Considerations
    • Co-Benefits – additional benefits outside of carbon reduction.
    • Location – can source globally but some buyers have location
    preferences.
    • Issuance/Vintage – no vintage requirements for carbon offset
    claims, but some buyers prefer newer projects.
    • Price – large variance in price based off of cost of the project
    and supply/demands.
    © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
    

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17. PAGE
    17
    Renewable Energy and Forestry/Land Use
    Projects Remain Most Popular
    Source: Forest Trends’ Ecosystem Marketplace. 2021. ‘Market in Motion’, State of Voluntary Carbon
    Markets 2021, Installment 1. Washington DC: Forest Trends Association.
    © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
    

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18. Sourcing Carbon Offsets
    • Full List of Green-e® Climate
    Sellers:
    • Green-e Website:
    • https://www.green-e.org/certified-
    resources/carbon-offsets
    • Including
    • Purchase Online:
    • Green Mountain Energy
    • https://www.greenmountainenergy
    .com/home-energy-
    solutions/carbon-offsets/
    © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
    

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19. PAGE
    19
    © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
    

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20. Contact.
    Michelle McGinty
    MANAGER, PROGRAM OUTREACH
    michelle.mcginty@resource-solutions.org
    415.568.4284
    www.resource-solutions.org © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
    

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21. View Slide

22. How to Manage Your Carbon Footprint
    PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL
    2
    1. Calculate
    In order for any organization to manage
    the impact of its greenhouse gas
    emissions, it must first quantify them.
    2. Conserve
    Identify and act on areas where you or
    your organization can reduce its overall
    impact on the environment.
    3. Offset
    Purchase Carbon Offsets to counter
    the remaining unavoidable emissions.
    

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23. Carbon Offset Project Types & Standards
    PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL
    3
    Verra y Climate Action Reserve y American Carbon Registry y The Gold Standard
    Categories of Verra Methodologies
    

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24. 4
    Our Principles
    Terrapass is committed to delivering the highest quality environmental products.
    We Adopt the Highest Carbon Offset Standards
    KƵƌĐĂƌďŽŶŽĨĨƐĞƚƐĂƌĞĐĞƌƚŝĨŝĞĚďLJƚŚĞŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ͛ƐƚŽƉ independent third-party
    verifiers. We only purchase carbon offsets from projects that are certified by Verra,
    Gold Standard, American Carbon Registry or the Climate Action Reserve.
    We Complete Rigorous Assurance Processes
    We enlist an accredited and independent accounting firm to verify that we have
    purchased and retired the exact number of carbon offsets for our customers in
    ĂĐĐŽƌĚĂŶĐĞǁŝƚŚƚŚĞƉƌŽŵŝƐĞƐǁĞ͛ǀĞŵĂĚĞƚŽƚŚĞŵ͘
    We complete Green-e Climate Certification® for customers who choose the highest
    level of independent third-party party assurance from project to retirement.
    Carbon Offset Product Integrity Processes
    

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25. &
    We Believe the Technology that Interconnects the
    World Should Also Respect It
    

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26. Our Sustainable “Why”
    • Sustainable Materials are not just for
    interiors products
    • All product manufacturers have a
    responsibility in reducing a building’s
    impact
    • Smart Technology has a greater role to
    play to reduce energy and carbon impact
    • Collaboration is the ONLY answer
    

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27. Holistic Sustainability at Superior Essex
    CONFIDENTIAL |
    Sustainable Technology
    Solutions
    • Occupant Health &
    Wellbeing
    • Energy Savings
    • Operational Carbon
    Savings
    • Resilience
    • LEED, WELL, LBC
    Sustainable Products
    • Red List Free
    • Living Product Challenge
    • Declare
    • EPD
    • HPD
    • Embodied Carbon
    Reduction
    Sustainable Company
    • Corporate Social
    Responsibility
    • UN Global Compact
    • SDGs
    • SBTi 1.5 Degree + Net
    Zero
    • MissionNext
    • Zero Waste to Landfill
    • EcoVadis
    • QuEST Assessment
    

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28. We have all of these…..
    3 Living Product
    Challenge Certified
    Product Families
    4 Red List
    Free
    Declare
    Labels
    35+ HPDs
    (1,000’s of
    SKUs)
    55+ EPDs
    (1,000’s of
    SKUs)
    All Copper products are
    manufactured in a Zero Waste to
    Landfill facility (since 2014!)
    35+ Product
    Families
    with
    certified
    Embodied
    Carbon
    Reductions
    

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29. To support our customers achieve all of
    these….
    

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30. Before we proceed– what is Embodied Carbon?
    Why is it important?
    

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34. Corporate Carbon Commitments
    and SO many more…
    

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35. Zero Carbon Building Standards
    

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36. The 2030 Challenge for Embodied Carbon
    • Scope: buildings, infrastructure and materials
    • Focus: embodied energy (GWP)
    • Signatories: global architecture and building community
    

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37. We began our Carbon
    Journey in 2014, recertified
    in 2019
    55+ Product Families with EPDs=
    1000’s of SKUs
    

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38. Understanding our Product Carbon Impact
    was just the beginning……
    

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39. Cabling is a category found in the Embodied Carbon in
    Construction Calculator Tool!
    Digitizing & Comparisons!
    

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40. Life Cycle Impact Action Plan
    Contributes to EPD Option 2
    Credit!
    We Now are moving beyond TRANSPARENCY TO OPTIMIZATION
    

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41. Third-Party Certified Embodied Carbon
    Impact Reduction!
    • 35+ Product Families with third—party certified
    reduced Embodied Carbon!
    • Contributes to LEED EPD Option 2 Credit!
    

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42. After we’ve identified and have taken action
    to reduce our life cycle carbon impacts….
    

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43. Zero Carbon Program!
    

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44. Everywhere You Live and Work®
    Just by choosing nCompass Cabling & Connectivity on this project,
    the measurable carbon reductions would be:
    (Estimates are based on 20,000 ft of 10Gain XP 6A CMP)
    Offsetting the
    impacts of 2
    vehicles driven
    for one year.
    Sequester the
    same amount of
    carbon as a 11.2
    acres forest!
    Offsetting the
    impacts of 392
    trash bags going
    to landfill
    Offsetting the
    impact of the
    electricity use of
    1.7 homes for one
    year.
    

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45. Next Frontier! Scope 1 & 2 Carbon
    Accounting & SBTi’s
    Establishing Scope 1 & 2 2019
    Baseline; Scope 3 to follow by
    May 2022
    Committing to SBTi 1.5 Degree
    Commitment (Potentially Net
    Zero) (Offsets can’t be used)
    

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46. &
    Thank you!
    For more information about our sustainable
    cabling solutions, contact our Global Head of
    Sustainability at annie.bevan@spsx.com
    

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