When creating the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), the Kyoto Protocol described three main aims: meeting greenhouse gas reduction targets, sustainable development, and providing emissions cuts for the lowest cost. This study argues that these three aims represent powerful discourses, justifying the European Union’s continued reliance on offset credits from the CDM. Furthermore, when advising policy-makers, NGOs may find it difficult to overtly oppose offsetting due to the power of these ideas. However, it also argues that these three discourses may provide some opportunities for NGOs to form new narratives, highlighting some of the contradictions inherent in offsetting.

U-turn on EU’s Emissions Trading System for road transport and buildings carries huge environmental, social and economic price tag
A small number of politicians are pushing to reverse course on the Emissions Trading System for road transport and buildings (ETS2). However, such a u-turn would fuel the climate crisis and cost European society and the economy dearly. Member states have all the tools to roll out ETS2 fairly and effectively but they need to act now.