Issue - meetings

To appraise the Committee on the purpose and use of commercial carbon offsetting, and recommend that only when all reduction opportunities have been exhausted should this be considered.

(a)       That the Council should not purchase carbon removal offsets while carbon reduction and sequestration opportunities exist, irrespective of the 2030 net zero carbon target; and

(b)       Only when all carbon reduction opportunities have been exhausted, or are not viable, should the Council consider the purchase of removal offsets to become net zero carbon. In such a case, the Council should prioritise offset projects that are local and meet robust standards/backed by UK Government.