ABSTRACT
The lack of regulation in the voluntary market for carbon offsetting has fostered a climate of uncertainty: the complexity of choosing the kind of carbon offsets to buy, how much, and from whom, could deter individuals and organisations from doing so. Verifying the existence of carbon reduction projects and whether they actually add anything new is also key in a situation where unreliable sellers, or ‘carbon cowboys’, could operate. The Carbon Neutral Company, one of the biggest intermediaries, uses KPMG to audit its carbon credit accounts. The carbon offsetting agenda is being driven by the need to communicate to consumers that ‘something is being done’ by the business community. But, when all is said and done on offsetting, too much is said and too little done to make a real impact on reducing emissions.
