viii, 120 p. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / International carbon offset projects are framed as a cost effective, market based approach to address global warming through the cap-and-trade model of greenhouse gas emissions trading. Emission reduction projects in the Global South attempt to mitigate or "offset" pollution in the Global North by taking advantage of economic poverty in the developing world. This thesis investigates two development projects in Central America to explore the social impacts of carbon offsetting on communities. The research findings suggest that corporate support for emissions trading disproportionately benefits business interests while remaining largely unaccountable for project outcomes. This thesis argues that cap-and-trade in general and the US voluntary emissions trading market in particular are fundamentally flawed systems incapable of effectively addressing climate change and suggests sustainable alternatives to carbon offsetting. / Committee in Charge: Dr. Galen Martin, Chair; Dr. Derrick L. Hindery; Dr. Kathie Carpenter

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2011. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 190-194). Also available on the World Wide Web.

<p>Private individuals can voluntarily buy EU Allowances (EUA) in order to remove them from the European Union Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading System (<em>EU ETS</em>)<em>.</em> It leads to progressive reduction of total carbon dioxide emissions in Europe. Kalmar Energi offers customers to obtain one EUA (equivalent to one ton of CO₂) per year by paying 25 SEK a month as a KlimatEl-supplement. The purpose of this research is to examine the customers’ attitudes in the issue of climate compensation and trying to define the reasons behind their choices.</p><p>The results of the quantitative questionnaire were analyzed by using descriptive and analytical statistical methods and have shown some correlation between customers’ ages and decisions to accept or not the offer of KlimatEl. The gender and attitudes about everyday environmentally friendly behavior allows us to segment this group. The strongest motivation for investment in KlimatEl appeared to be awareness of the negative consequences caused by climate changes and the feeling of threat to human health and welfare. The main reasons to decline the offer of KlimatEl is skepticism about the system of emissions trading, distrust of the efficiency of this act and also a lack of confidence in the energy company.</p><p>Knowledge of carbon offsetting is surprisingly weak among KlimatEl customers. Their willingness to do something morally right and to support the energy company explains their commitment more than their knowledge of the ecological impact of this act or desire to be a part of the green trend. The result of this research shows the need for efficient information building a correct and positive perception of KlimatEl as a product and even of Kalmar Energy’s environmental work.</p><p> </p>

Private individuals can voluntarily buy EU Allowances (EUA) in order to remove them from the European Union Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading System (EU ETS). It leads to progressive reduction of total carbon dioxide emissions in Europe. Kalmar Energi offers customers to obtain one EUA (equivalent to one ton of CO2) per year by paying 25 SEK a month as a KlimatEl-supplement. The purpose of this research is to examine the customers’ attitudes in the issue of climate compensation and trying to define the reasons behind their choices. The results of the quantitative questionnaire were analyzed by using descriptive and analytical statistical methods and have shown some correlation between customers’ ages and decisions to accept or not the offer of KlimatEl. The gender and attitudes about everyday environmentally friendly behavior allows us to segment this group. The strongest motivation for investment in KlimatEl appeared to be awareness of the negative consequences caused by climate changes and the feeling of threat to human health and welfare. The main reasons to decline the offer of KlimatEl is skepticism about the system of emissions trading, distrust of the efficiency of this act and also a lack of confidence in the energy company. Knowledge of carbon offsetting is surprisingly weak among KlimatEl customers. Their willingness to do something morally right and to support the energy company explains their commitment more than their knowledge of the ecological impact of this act or desire to be a part of the green trend. The result of this research shows the need for efficient information building a correct and positive perception of KlimatEl as a product and even of Kalmar Energy’s environmental work.

Carbon offsetting means to offset those greenhouse gases that are caused by our actions. The purpose of this paper is to examine how companies are working with carbon offsetting. The focus of the research is how travel agencies and companies that provides carbon offsetting. The writers also highlight the problems carbon offsetting is facing. The study was performed with qualitative methods through interviews with three companies working with carbon offsetting. The research shows that carbon offsetting within air travel can vary in price between different companies and they find it more lucrative to work with business customers. The writers have come to the conclusion that it is people's attitudes as well as lack of promotion and information that is the problem that exists for carbon offsetting. The writers have also found out that it is the uncertainty about carbon offsetting that affects the individual's attitude towards the subject. This, as well as the awareness that exists about the subject and the economy which every individual is prepared to spend on the environment.

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Did you know that in 2008 the largest publicly listed companies in the world caused environmental damage for a total estimated cost of $2.15 trillion, accounting for 35% of total global environmental costs caused by human activity? Or did you know that three million people die every year because of outdoor pollution made by vehicles and factories? Most companies have some sort of environmental policy that aims to reduce waste and pollution, but there are few that aim to become a climate neutral business. Our study has the intention to find out why some companies are willing to do something extra for the environment by voluntary compensate for their emissions through carbon offsets. Previous research has shown that there is a lack of understanding regarding the motivations to reduce emissions and that there is a need for studies to find out motivations for why companies buy voluntary carbon offsets, which leads us to our problem definition: What motivates companies to buy voluntary emission offsets? We developed four sub-purposes that helped us in our journey towards an answer to our research question. These were: identify incentives for emission offsetting, important aspects when evaluating which projects to support, if and how companies are communicating their offsetting activities and whether the possibility of buying emission offsets reduce incentives for companies to decrease their own emissions. Our degree project is written on commission for Respect Climate, a sustainability consultancy that operates in the area of Scandinavia. They help their customers to reduce their emissions, make climate calculations and offset emissions. Our aim with our conclusions of our degree project is to help Respect Climate to market their services to potential customers. As our degree project focuses on underlying motivations behind their customers’ behavior, we have chosen to do a qualitative study. First we implemented two interviews with employees at Respect Climate, which acted as a foundation to our interviews with four of their business customers. Further, we chose to collect communication data from their customers’ annual reports and websites in order to get a third dimension to our study. Our conclusions have shown that the primary motivation for engaging in emission offsetting is doing something good for the environment, but other incentives within the social and economic aspects of the Triple Bottom Line are expressed as well.

Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-120). Also available online in Scholars' Bank.

This thesis presents an econometric test of the offsetting behavior hypothesis concerning drivers of light trucks relative to cars. The main objective is to determine whether drivers of light trucks offset perceived safety benefits associated with larger vehicles by driving more aggressively than drivers of cars, subsequently causing more fatal crashes, holding all else constant. An empirical model using data on pedestrian fatalities across the United States over a five-year period is developed and analyzed in order to capture the desired results. Estimates provide substantial evidence in support of the offsetting behavior hypothesis. To strengthen the case for driver offsetting behavior beyond previous studies, the model is estimated again using pedalcyclist fatalities. The results also point to interesting conclusions regarding the effects of increased speed limits on the behavior of drivers.

Idag är det få som motsäger sig att människan är ansvarig för de klimatförändringar vi börjat uppleva. Globala överenskommelser visar sig vara svåra att formulera men regioner såsom EU har infört handeln med utsläppsrätter och allt fler enskilda nationer och verksamheter sätter nu upp egna mål för reduktioner av skadliga utsläpp. Vissa verksamheter går steget längre och har skapat interna kompensationssystem för sina aktiviteters klimatkonsekvenser. Studien har med hjälp av kvalitativa intervjuer undersökt sex verksamheter i Sverige som frivilligt valt att klimatkompensera internt. Här presenteras bakgrunderna till det interna valet, hur arbetena utformats liksom vilka lärdomar som kan dras från deras erfarenheter. Resultatet visar på en viss misstro till externa kompensationsprojekt men främst en vilja att ta ansvar och förbättra på hemmaplan först. Utformningarna skiljer sig och det är många praktiska omständigheter att ha i åtanke när verksamhetsintern klimatkompensation ska införas. Klimatnyttan av dessa arbeten är svår att beräkna, men verksamheterna vittnar om att det skapar en medvetenhet, vilken på sikt kan leda till förändrat beteende som sparar både pengar och miljö. / Nowadays, few people resist the fact that mankind is responsible for the climatic changes we are now beginning to experience. Global agreements seem difficult to form, but regions like the European Union has introduced an Emissions Trading Scheme, EU ETS. More and more nations and organizations are now also setting up their own emission reduction goals. Some organizations takes it even further and have created systems of carbon offsetting within their own organizations.This study has executed qualitative interviews with six Swedish organizations that have chosen internal carbon offsetting. Here you find their motives to compensate internally, how the work is designed and what lessons to be learned from their experiences. The results show a certain mistrust in external compensation-projects, but they mainly report a desire to take responsibility and to start improvements locally. The design of these works vary and there are many aspects of practicality to bear in mind when implementing internal carbon offsetting. The climatic benefits from these works are difficult to calculate, but the organizations claim that it creates a an awareness that, in the long run, can lead to an altered behavior, saving both money and the environment.