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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
19. PAGE 19 © 2022 Center for Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
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.
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.
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
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
25. & We Believe the Technology that Interconnects the World Should Also Respect It
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
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
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
29. To support our customers achieve all of these….
30. Before we proceed– what is Embodied Carbon? Why is it important?
34. Corporate Carbon Commitments and SO many more…
35. Zero Carbon Building Standards
36. The 2030 Challenge for Embodied Carbon • Scope: buildings, infrastructure and materials • Focus: embodied energy (GWP) • Signatories: global architecture and building community
37. We began our Carbon Journey in 2014, recertified in 2019 55+ Product Families with EPDs= 1000’s of SKUs
38. Understanding our Product Carbon Impact was just the beginning……
39. Cabling is a category found in the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator Tool! Digitizing & Comparisons!
40. Life Cycle Impact Action Plan Contributes to EPD Option 2 Credit! We Now are moving beyond TRANSPARENCY TO OPTIMIZATION
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!
42. After we’ve identified and have taken action to reduce our life cycle carbon impacts….
43. Zero Carbon Program!
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.
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)
46. & Thank you! For more information about our sustainable cabling solutions, contact our Global Head of Sustainability at annie.bevan@spsx.com