Publication:
Overview of Carbon Offset Programs : Similarities and Differences

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
2015-01-27
ISSN
Published
2015-01-27
Author(s)
Partnership for Market Readiness
Editor(s)
Abstract
This Technical Note provides a summary of the key elements and design features of 11 different carbon offset programs. It discusses the essential differences and similarities between programs, and discusses how these programs address key issues, such as: efficiency, environmental integrity, applicability, and transaction costs. It does not evaluate the implications of the different design features. This note may be useful for countries that are contemplating different designs of carbon offset programs and other crediting mechanisms.
Link to Data Set
Citation
Partnership for Market Readiness. 2015. Overview of Carbon Offset Programs : Similarities and Differences. PMR Technical Note;No. 6. © http://hdl.handle.net/10986/21353 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.
Associated URLs
Associated content
Report Series
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Publication
    Crediting Mechanisms Overview
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2011-12) Partnership for Market Readiness
    This document provides a summary assessment of (presented) scaled-up crediting instruments as well as existing project-based crediting schemes against a number of important general characteristics of such instruments. Its purpose is to provide insights that may inform the design and use of possible scaled-up crediting instruments. This summary assessment begins with an examination of proposals for scaled-up crediting mechanisms. It considers existing crediting instruments, that is, (i) Kyoto project mechanisms (clean development mechanism (CDM) and joint implementation (JI)); and (ii) voluntary emission reductions (VER) schemes (in the non-compliance and voluntary markets). The characteristics (or issues) covered are: (i) national and international circumstances for market-based mechanisms and how these interact; (ii) coverage and boundary setting; (iii) participation and incentives for participation; (iv) caps, baselines, and allocations (or issuance); (v) market integrity and credibility; (vi) monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV); (vii) program authority and administration; and (viii) potential scaling up modalities.
  • Publication
    The Nuts and Bolts of Baseline Setting
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2012-08) Partnership for Market Readiness
    This document provides an overview of baseline setting for greenhouse gas (GHG) crediting mechanisms. The first section briefly explains the general purpose and objectives of setting a crediting mechanism baseline. The second section summarizes key policy considerations in defining and setting baselines. The final section covers important technical elements of baselines and provides an overview of various methods that can be used to estimate baseline emissions. The main purpose of this technical note is to examine key issues for baseline setting in the context of scaled-up crediting mechanisms. Many of the technical and policy considerations presented here, however, are relevant to existing project-based crediting mechanisms as well, and the discussion takes into account concepts developed and experience gained under these mechanisms. In addition, most of the concepts and examples presented here are relevant to setting baselines in the energy and industry sectors. Where relevant, however, examples from other sectors, including forestry and land-use, are used to illustrate important ideas.
  • Publication
    Options and Guidance for the Development of Baselines
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2013-10) Partnership for Market Readiness
    Developed under the auspices of the Partnership for Market Readiness (PMR) and with advice and input from its Baselines Working Group, this document offers guidance and options for the development of emissions baselines, a key component for assessing the emission reductions in in both market and non-market based mechanisms. In the context of this document, a baseline refers to a scenario that describes expected or desired greenhouse gas emissions levels and that can be used as a basis for determining the amount of emissions reductions achieved as the result of a crediting, trading, or other mechanism. This document is divided into two parts. Part one (sections two and three) presents the context for emissions baselines, introduces key concepts and terms, and describes principles, considerations, and potential trade-offs that can inform decisions in the development of robust and transparent baselines. Part two provides a step-by-step description of how guidance users , a term we use here for those using this guidance, can develop baselines. Part two begins with a brief description of options for baseline development and approval, and proceeds in six further sections (5-10) to present options to define and update baselines. In the future, this document will be supplemented by additional documents illustrating how the guidance presented here can be applied to specific market or non-market mechanisms involving a variety of economic sectors and GHG emission sources. Finally, this document is intended to be dynamic. Over time, as experience is gained and consensus emerges on best practices, this document may evolve to provide more specific guidelines, where and as appropriate.
  • Publication
    Options to Use Existing International Offset Programs in a Domestic Context
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2015-08) Partnership for Market Readiness
    Over the past 25 years significant experience on offsetting has been built up through the development, implementation and improvement of various international and domestic offset programs. A wide range of approaches adapted to different circumstances have been explored. Currently a number of countries are considering the design of their own domestic offset programs. This report will explore different options for drawing on this international knowledge and infrastructure. Leveraging the existing international offset programs can be a way to cost effectively fast start a domestic offset program. Making use of the existing international experience can take the form of different levels of dependencies, ranging from full reliance on international programs on the one hand to a fully independent domestic program in the other extreme case, and everything in between. The report will present a guiding framework that builds on previous research in the offset component of the PMR technical work program, to support policy makers make informed decisions about if and how existing international offset standards can be used in a national context. The report includes a) an inventory of different institutional, administrative/procedural and project assessment/methodological approaches applied in existing international offset programs; b) a definition of plausible scenarios for leveraging international experience when designing domestic programs; c) an Impact and evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of different options assessed; and d) identification and evaluation of key questions that policy makers planning or designing a domestic offset program may find useful to consider when applying elements of international offset standards.
  • Publication
    Domestic Emissions Trading
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2012-04) Partnership for Market Readiness
    This document provides an overview and summary assessment of lessons and insights learned from various existing and presented domestic cap and trade schemes. For each scheme, a set of general characteristics (or issues) is considered. The characteristics (or issues) covered include the following: (i) coverage and scope; (ii) setting a cap; (iii) setting the points of obligation; (iv) allocation of allowances; (v) systems for domestic monitoring, reporting and verification, (MRV) and compliance; (vi) enabling trading and fostering stability; (vii) institutional arrangements, including technical and legal infrastructures; and (viii) use of offsets and linking. The domestic emissions trading schemes (ETS) included in this assessment are the following: (i) European Union (EU) ETS; (ii) New Zealand (NZ) ETS; (iii) United States (U.S.) northeast states regional greenhouse gas initiative (RGGI); (iv) California (Cal) ETS; (v) Australia clean energy future carbon pricing mechanism (Aus CPM); and (vi) Tokyo cap and trade program (C and T).

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

  • Publication
    The New Microfinance Handbook : A Financial Market System Perspective
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2013-02) Ledgerwood, Joanna; Ledgerwood, Joanna
    The new microfinance handbook provides a primer on financial services for the poor. It is written for a wide audience, including practitioners, facilitators, policy makers, regulators, investors, and donors working to improve the financial system, but who are relatively new to the sector. It will also be useful for telecommunication companies and other support service providers, students and academics, and consultants and trainers. Although this book is in part an update of the original handbook, the growth of the sector and the complexity of the financial market system have led to a perspective much broader than the previous 'financial and institutional perspective.' As a result, additional chapters have been added to address issues more relevant than when the original handbook was written. To reflect this complexity, the author invited a number of experts to write many of the new chapters. In addition, given that this book does not go into as much detail as the previous book did, a list of key resources at the end of each chapter provides readers additional information on specific topics. Finally, although the title still uses the term microfinance, the book very much addresses the wider financial ecosystem, moving beyond the traditional meaning of microfinance to inclusive financial systems.
  • Publication
    The Political Economy of Targeted Safety Nets
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2005-01) Ouerghi, Azedine
    To be successful, Social Safety Net (SSN) programs require three elements of policy design: technical correctness, administrative feasibility and political viability; yet the politically supportable aspect is often neglected. In this note, several features of political economy applicable to the choice, design, and implementation of safety net programs are discussed: modeling the electoral politics of targeting; the roles of attitudes and perceptions; centralized versus localized control; internal and organizational politics, and finally, politics and the different social objectives of safety ropes and safety nets. The note discusses the political viability of any SSN program, profoundly influenced by corruption and the perceptions of horizontal equity, process and administrative fairness, and effectiveness. Corruption subverts all three perceptions, and so is especially damaging to political support. Moreover, changes in the average poverty rate mask enormous "churning" as households move in and out of poverty. This volatility creates the demand not just for transfer programs to those whose incomes are chronically low (safety nets), but also for insurance-like programs that would pay off not only when income was absolutely low, but also when households experienced negative shocks (safety ropes). While safety "nets" seek to minimize income or expenditure poverty, the objective of safety "ropes" is to mitigate risk. If the targeting of social programs is judged exclusively on poverty or benefit incidence based on a cross sectional snapshot, then risk mitigation programs benefiting households who have suffered large shocks, but who are not "poor" may appear to have large "leakage" when in fact they are simply serving an alternative social objective. While a "safety net" program might be more popular, the more effectively it transfers from richer to poorer households, a "safety rope" program might cause little net redistribution, but be popular because it serves an important insurance function.
  • Publication
    An Overview of Agricultural Pollution in Vietnam
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2017) Cassou, Emilie; Tran, Dai Nghia; Nguyen, Tin Hong; Dinh, Tung Xuan; Nguyen, Cong Van; Cao, Binh Thang; Jaffee, Steven; Ru, Jiang
    Vietnamese agriculture has experienced remarkable growth over the past twenty years. Today, however, Vietnamese agriculture is edging toward the limits of a growth model rooted more in the intensification of production systems featuring heavy use of labor, chemicals, and natural resources than in efficiency or value addition gains. Agricultural growth is decelerating and Vietnam’s competitiveness as a provider of bulk, undifferentiated commodities is flagging as the agricultural sector faces rising competition for labor, land, and other resources. The environmental fallout from intensification has also begun to adversely impact productivity and the position of Vietnam’s commodities in international markets. If it is to fulfill its ambitions and remain a motor of economic development, Vietnam’s agriculture will need to start producing More from Less. In this regard, tackling agricultural pollution represents a key challenge for Vietnam. Pollution has started to take a toll on the sector’s own resource base, potentially impacting soil fertility and yields, the effectiveness of chemicals in combating pests and disease, farmer health and productivity, environmental health, and the safety of food. Growing evidence and public concern about pollution have led the Vietnamese government to adopt a new outlook and to take measures to address the problem. The research upon which this summary report is based represents the first attempt to assemble existing evidence on the nature and magnitude of agricultural pollution in Vietnam, looking across the livestock, aquaculture, and crops subsectors. It is also an attempt to shed light on the socioeconomic impacts and drivers of agricultural pollution, including the shortcomings of existing policies and programs to reign in the problem.
  • Publication
    World Development Report 2004
    (World Bank, 2003) World Bank
    Too often, services fail poor people in access, in quality, and in affordability. But the fact that there are striking examples where basic services such as water, sanitation, health, education, and electricity do work for poor people means that governments and citizens can do a better job of providing them. Learning from success and understanding the sources of failure, this year’s World Development Report, argues that services can be improved by putting poor people at the center of service provision. How? By enabling the poor to monitor and discipline service providers, by amplifying their voice in policymaking, and by strengthening the incentives for providers to serve the poor. Freedom from illness and freedom from illiteracy are two of the most important ways poor people can escape from poverty. To achieve these goals, economic growth and financial resources are of course necessary, but they are not enough. The World Development Report provides a practical framework for making the services that contribute to human development work for poor people. With this framework, citizens, governments, and donors can take action and accelerate progress toward the common objective of poverty reduction, as specified in the Millennium Development Goals.
  • Publication
    Unlocking the Power of Healthy Longevity
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-09-12) World Bank
    Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are among the major health and development challenges of our time. Every year, about 41 million people die due to NCDs. This makes up about 74 percent of all deaths globally, the majority of which are in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Countless more people live with NCDs every day. Yet, NCDs are largely treatable and preventable. The risk of developing NCDs and deaths from them can both be lowered with appropriate attention to prevention and treatment. However, weak health systems and limited access to affordable care and information, especially in LMICs, contribute to lapses in seeking and receiving appropriate and timely care. This compendium is a compilation of 18 chapters, each exploring a different but related topic in the nexus of NCDs, human capital, and productivity. It is based on a series of analytical work taken up by the World Bank to support the Healthy Longevity Initiative (HLI) - a collaborative effort between the World Bank, the University of Toronto, and key academic and development partners including the Harvard University and the University of Washington. The HLI presents one of a growing set of efforts to increase the urgency of policy response to NCDs across the world.