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City analyst: carbon offsets are a targeted tool, not a primary path to Net Zero
Summary
Austin staff briefed commissioners that voluntary carbon offsets are a limited, monitored tool used mainly to meet certification goals and for hard-to-avoid emissions; staff said offsets account for a small share of the city's operational footprint and that TreeFolks city-forest credits are the primary local option.
City sustainability staff told the Joint Sustainability Commission that voluntary carbon offsets are a narrowly used market tool the City purchases to support projects and to meet certification goals, not a substitute for emissions reductions.
"At its simplest, at the simplest level, 1 carbon offset equates to 1 ton of carbon avoided or captured elsewhere," said Phil Drahn, Senior Climate Analyst with Austin Climate Action & Resilience, during a high-level presentation on carbon offsets and the Cityfs approach. He described two broad offset…
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