The study's results at the time caused an inevitable uproar, as they raised questions about the effectiveness of many carbon offset projects. In the Tages-Anzeiger article, Kathrin Dellantonio, Managing Director of myclimate Switzerland, repeats the "myclimate criticism" at the time: "The study is based on a thin data foundation and shows problematic methodological and content-related weaknesses." In the rest of the article, myclimate categorises questions relating to the integrity and holistic, sustainable impact of the projects and explicitly recognises the challenges in the market.
Statement on the study by Probst et al. | myclimate
Nature-based projects and cook stoves
A central point of discussion in the new article for myclimate is forest projects and the criticism of these. myclimate points out the difference between large-scale and generally older forest protection projects, whose weak points are known, and its approach to working closely with the local population and focussing on the reforestation of small, unused areas. Kathrin Dellantonio emphasises that the central quality and success criterion ensure that the protection of a forest also brings economic benefits to the local population.
myclimate also recognises a need to improve projects to promote efficient cooking stoves. Kathrin Dellantonio explains: "In large-scale projects, as analysed in the study, the same cookers are usually distributed to different population groups. But this fails to meet the needs of the local population." myclimate, therefore, favours needs-based, local technologies (cooker models) that do justice to local conditions and cooperation with locally established partners.
Renewed call for regulation and meaningful, supplementary contributions
In this article, myclimate once again calls for stronger regulation of the market for CO₂ certificates to raise the general level of quality and create a secure framework for supporters, including in legal terms. It should be possible to sanction undesirable developments and misconduct.
myclimate Advocates for Regulation of Climate Projects | myclimate
In the article, Cedric Brunner from ETH Zurich assesses the projects that myclimate supports very positively if they complement internal reduction efforts. Kathrin Dellantonio, therefore, adds again that myclimate, precisely to fulfil this requirement, has not been reporting "climate neutrality" for more than two years and has dispensed with the term "offsetting". myclimate sees itself as a "partner for companies we accompany on the way to the net zero target" with its offers in education and consulting, supplemented by carbon offset projects.
The article concludes by asking whether companies that invest in climate protection projects are also pursuing this holistic approach to the net zero target. Myclimate affirms this statement regarding its own partners and with reference to a comprehensive study by MSCI.
Read the full article in the Tages-Anzeiger here (in the subscription area):
Climate protection: debate about CO₂ certificates and myclimate | Tages-Anzeiger
