CP2282-22 Devon County Council Provision of Carbon Offsets

Descriptions

The Authority has committed to offsetting an increasing proportion of its carbon emissions over the period to 2030 from when it hopes to achieve full carbon neutrality each year. Initially this entailed looking to offset 5% of its 2019/20, 7.5% of its 2020/21 and 10% of its 2021/22 emissions through the UK Woodland Carbon Code or UK Peatland Carbon Code. In the end, due to market availability, Pending Issuance Units (PIUs) registered under the Woodland Carbon Code, that will mostly mature in the 2030s and early 2040s, were purchased. For the provision of this contract the Authority is looking to buy more carbon units and/or PIUs. Carbon unit Requirements Carbon units offered must be: - • From UK-Based natural environment projects • Verified to a Voluntary Carbon Market Standard which is recognised by ICROA or other similar VCM standards organisation • Where the carbon units or PIUs offered are from woodland creation or maintenance projects, these must be from native woodland schemes, not from non-native projects such as Sitka Spruce conifer plantations. We appreciate that the market may not be able to provide many carbon credits. We are prepared to accept PIUs that will be verified and converted into Carbon Units by no later than 2045. PIU unit Requirements PIUs must be: - • Verified and converted into full VCM standard carbon units by no later than 2045 • Where the carbon units or PIUs offered are from woodland creation or maintenance projects, these must be from native woodland schemes, not from non-native projects such as Sitka Spruce conifer plantations. The Authority has £74,000 available for this contract and wants to purchase as many Carbon Units or PIUs as possible for this budget