This brief responds to Environment Canada's discussion paper on greenhouse gas offsets, a key element of the federal government's proposed system of covenants (negotiated agreements) and emissions trading for large industrial emitters.
The brief focuses on the need for provisions to ensure environmental effectiveness, especially through avoidance of all forms of double counting, reinforcement of the definitions of "surplus" emission reductions and baselines, strong protection against the impermanence of carbon sinks, and full transparency and accountability in the administration of the offset system.
