Table 1. Justifications for amendments...

Table 1.

Justifications for amendments to the carbon management hierarchy.

Amendments	Justification
To include science based targets (SBTs) as the recommended accounting framework for the first three tiers of the hierarchy	Companies are supportive of aligning with the 2°C global warming target.
	SBTs are very ambitious with long-term visioning
	Standardisation and credibility are effective drivers for change
	Mitigates some ethical and credibility concerns associated with offsets
	Accelerates uptake of SBTs and overall global emissions
To require all companies to achieve at least carbon neutrality year on year (whether through SBTs or offsets) (Reframe re Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)	Forecasts predict that without such action, society will miss the 2°C and 1.5°C target
	Companies are likely to accelerate their ’avoid/reduce/replace‘ activities if the alternative is to pay for offsets
	Not all companies are adopting SBTs yet so those engaged need to be even more ambitious
To prioritise strategic offsets e.g. national grid capacity building, over insets (offsetting within the supply chain)	Has the greatest impact in overall decarbonisation It takes time to get to zero and offsets are useful due to their immediacy.
To include offsetting within the supply chain into the CMH	Its prioritising is useful as it builds resilience within the supply chain Has PR advantages
To have ‘off-the-shelf’ offsets as the final tier (i.e. all other offsets – not strategic, nor within the supply chain)	Advantages around immediacy and relative simplicity Offsets serve as an incentive to the company to reduce its direct emissions
To add The Gold Standard as the preferred verification body for all offsets. The Gold Standard offsets through biogas, water filters, cook stoves, wind and forestry (Gold Standard, 2019)	Accepted as a credible verification body: voted Best Voluntary Standard 2017
	Already established and so can be put into practice immediately.
To avoid claiming credit for any of the offsets	Avoids risks around double-counting following the introduction of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
To avoid claiming credit for any of the offsets	Supports the idea of “filling the financial gap” following the Paris Agreement
To include a scope 4/wider sustainability actions circle encompassing the hierarchy but to not count these within the carbon accounting	Avoids double-counting
	Wider sustainability issues are addressed
	’Loose change‘ emissions are tackled
To consider aligning these wider sustainability actions with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)	Helps with prioritisation Can aid PR activities e.g. if a food retailer, SDG 2 ‘zero hunger’ or SDG 3 ‘good health and wellbeing’ can be cited
To incorporate an annual deadline by which point a company needs to have achieved carbon neutrality or better (whether via SBTs or offsetting)	A company’s growth or shrinkage is recognised and targets are adapted accordingly
	Ensures alignment with the most up to date climate change projections
	Gives an incentive for companies to invest in scope 1 and 2 reductions with sufficient rapidity

Amendments	Justification
To include science based targets (SBTs) as the recommended accounting framework for the first three tiers of the hierarchy	Companies are supportive of aligning with the 2°C global warming target.
	SBTs are very ambitious with long-term visioning
	Standardisation and credibility are effective drivers for change
	Mitigates some ethical and credibility concerns associated with offsets
	Accelerates uptake of SBTs and overall global emissions
To require all companies to achieve at least carbon neutrality year on year (whether through SBTs or offsets) (Reframe re Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)	Forecasts predict that without such action, society will miss the 2°C and 1.5°C target
	Companies are likely to accelerate their ’avoid/reduce/replace‘ activities if the alternative is to pay for offsets
	Not all companies are adopting SBTs yet so those engaged need to be even more ambitious
To prioritise strategic offsets e.g. national grid capacity building, over insets (offsetting within the supply chain)	Has the greatest impact in overall decarbonisation It takes time to get to zero and offsets are useful due to their immediacy.
To include offsetting within the supply chain into the CMH	Its prioritising is useful as it builds resilience within the supply chain Has PR advantages
To have ‘off-the-shelf’ offsets as the final tier (i.e. all other offsets – not strategic, nor within the supply chain)	Advantages around immediacy and relative simplicity Offsets serve as an incentive to the company to reduce its direct emissions
To add The Gold Standard as the preferred verification body for all offsets. The Gold Standard offsets through biogas, water filters, cook stoves, wind and forestry (Gold Standard, 2019)	Accepted as a credible verification body: voted Best Voluntary Standard 2017
	Already established and so can be put into practice immediately.
To avoid claiming credit for any of the offsets	Avoids risks around double-counting following the introduction of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
To avoid claiming credit for any of the offsets	Supports the idea of “filling the financial gap” following the Paris Agreement
To include a scope 4/wider sustainability actions circle encompassing the hierarchy but to not count these within the carbon accounting	Avoids double-counting
	Wider sustainability issues are addressed
	’Loose change‘ emissions are tackled
To consider aligning these wider sustainability actions with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)	Helps with prioritisation Can aid PR activities e.g. if a food retailer, SDG 2 ‘zero hunger’ or SDG 3 ‘good health and wellbeing’ can be cited
To incorporate an annual deadline by which point a company needs to have achieved carbon neutrality or better (whether via SBTs or offsetting)	A company’s growth or shrinkage is recognised and targets are adapted accordingly
	Ensures alignment with the most up to date climate change projections
	Gives an incentive for companies to invest in scope 1 and 2 reductions with sufficient rapidity

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