DEFRA Code of Best Practice

DEFRA launches process

On 19 February 2008, Hillary Benn, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced the framework for the Code of Best Practice for Carbon Offsetting.

"Carbon Footprint believes that climate change will ultimately be tackled by each and every one of us being aware of our carbon footprint and making lifestyle changes to reduce it, however we realise that reduction to zero is not possible for everyone, and in this way carbon offsetting plays an important role. We have been vocal for some considerable time to promote a standard for all voluntary offset programmes and welcome the government's new initiative being lead by DEFRA"

John Buckley, Managing Director, Carbon Footprint

What is this "code of best practice"?

It is a programme set up to look at developing a voluntary code of practice for carbon offsetting. The main aims of establishing a best practice code are to:

• educate people about offsetting and its role in addressing climate change

• enable people to make choices about offsetting

• increase consumer confidence

• show offset providers the quality and verification standards to which they should aspire

This applies to offsetting to consumers - there are no plans as yet by DEFRA to roll this out to businesses.

For more information on the DEFRA consultation process go to... http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/carbonoffset/codeofpractice.htm