Strategies for Avoiding Lower-Quality Offset Credits

Vetting Offset Projects

As indicated in the prior section, buyers can ask basic questions about offset projects that may help screen out lower quality options. In most cases, project developers and offset credit owners should be forthcoming with answers to such questions (if they are not, it is a red flag). For more sophisticated buyers or those with more resources, a fuller list of offset project “due diligence” questions can be applied.

One option is to engage the services of consultants or trusted retailers to examine projects, navigate different options, and put together a portfolio of offset credits that meet a buyer’s goals (with respect to location, project type, offset quality, and co-benefits, for example). It is often a good idea to work with someone who has a detailed understanding of the sectors or project types being considered, which in some cases could involve enlisting multiple experts.

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