Practical Implementation Guide: Carbon Offsetting

As urban areas account for up to 72% of global greenhouse gas emissions, local governments play a critical role in climate change mitigation. This practical Implementation Guide on Carbon Offsetting, developed within the Urban Transition Mission - Centre (UTMC) project, emphasises that while aggressive emissions reduction must remain cities’ top priority, high-quality carbon offsetting can serve as a complementary tool to accelerate progress toward net-zero targets. The guide, aligned with ICLEI’s Climate Neutrality Framework, outlines how cities can transparently engage in carbon offsetting, particularly for unavoidable emissions, while maximising co-benefits such as biodiversity restoration, local resilience, and socio-economic development. It also urges caution against misuse, greenwashing, and over-reliance on offsets, advocating for strong safeguards, robust certification standards, and stakeholder collaboration. By combining strong local reductions with credible offset strategies, cities can enhance their contribution to national and global climate goals and help secure a more resilient and sustainable future.