Southwest Environmental Limited

Additionality

Additionality is the scourge of all carbon reduction and carbon offset measures.

Additionality - Example 1

Whilst one might argue that solar panels for example are always good (low carbon energy), if they are being installed for economic advantage, and claimed as an offset measure then we have created additionality.

Let imagine that a financial decision is made to install solar panels on the roof of a hypothetical car factory. The company currently imports grid electricity and want to save on this expense, a decision is made to install a large solar array on the factory roof.

Just after the panels are installed, the marketing department hits on an idea to sell each car with the first 5000 miles worth of driving carbon offset. They use the carbon savings from the new solar panel array to balance or offset these emissions.

This example of additionality would not be likely to be picked up in carbon reporting, but it is not a genuine carbon saving. The solar panels were not installed to save carbon, that is mealy a side effect.

Additionality - Further Reading

If you would like to read more here are the 3 top write ups on additionality from Google. 

Further Reading 1 - "The topic of ‘additionality’ is the most fundamental − and thus contentious − issue in the carbon offset market "

Further Reading 2 - "There have been estimates that 20-70% of all CDM projects are non-additional. "

Further Reading 3 - "I realized we had a real problem here"