TICOS MONTHLY UPDATE - JUNE 2007
Within the past month TICOS has entered into negotiations to establish two major carbon reduction and offset programmes in tourism destinations. Such programmes present a challenge to offset providers as the terms of engagement are far wider than simply offering a voluntary project or certified emission reduction to a company.
To that end we have strengthened our position in relation to addressing both double counting and additionality, both of which are major factors in the delivery of carbon reduction in destinations. Our clearly defined position in relation to these issues can be seen at www.ticos.co.uk/science/sciencepaper1.htm.
Following a number of representations to TICOS supporting and objecting to the role of tree planting and sequestration in carbon offsetting we have commissioned a new report 'Forestry projects as voluntary carbon offsets: considerations, measurements and legal aspects' to provide us with an enhanced knowledge of the issues involved.
This 32 page report is opportune as 33 out of the 41 voluntary offset programmes include forestry schemes and 22 deal with them exclusively. Despite the fact that about 20% of global CO2 emissions comes from forest losses there are still objections to the inclusion of new forestry programmes within the offset industry. We start from a presumption in favor of including both tree planting and new forestry work within the TICOS programme. We are less sure about the acquisition of existing forests to protect them but do not rule this out in the future. What this report does is to both improve our knowledge and aid our decision making and for that we thank our author Stefan Gossling.
A copy of this report is available upon request to all those using the TICOS service.
TICOS will continue to act as a pioneer in addressing the concerns of the users of our service as we strive to improve the standards and transparency of the voluntary offset market. Although governments tend to support regulatory and certified emission reductions, we know that many companies and their customers want to act voluntarily and we are determined to support this action in any way we can.
Where we lack knowledge we will try to gain it and we are fortunate to have access to a great team of enthusiastic advisors and supporters to help us in our work.
Dick Sisman
TICOS Founder
19 June 2007