Abstract |
This UKERC Meeting Place seminar, co-sponsored by the Sustainable Development Commission and the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs, aimed to achieve three outcomes: - a consensus on what carbon neutrality means, its validity as a concept, and whether there are different definitions which might apply to operations, plans and policies;
- a consensus on the use of carbon offsetting, if and when it is justified, and what constitutes a viable and sustainable carbon offset;
- a consensus on what steps need to be taken, by the UK Government, the Devolved Administrations and/or the private sector, to ensure that commitments and pledges on carbon neutrality (including the use of carbon offsets) are applied in a way which is robust and compatible with the UKs commitment to sustainable development.
The event set out to engage a multi-disciplinary stakeholder group to stimulate solutionfocused debate. Participants included policy-makers, policy advisors, academics, carbon management organisations, existing carbon neutral organisations and NGOs. |