Why won’t VCMI allow offsetting as part of its Claims Code?

In the June Claims Code, we frame the use of carbon credits by companies as contributions above and beyond what they should be doing to decarbonize their businesses – as part of what is called beyond value chain mitigation (BVCM).

We state that carbon credits cannot be counted towards the achievement of within-value chain emissions reduction targets, but instead the most aspirational VCMI Claims in the Claims Code should represent a contribution to both the company’s climate goals and global efforts to mitigate climate change.

We have defined contribution claims within the glossary in the Claims Code.