Name of Program

Regional scope

Type of Program 

Start of Program 

International offset mechanisms

Clean Development Mechanism

International (covers all countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol)

Project-based offset mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol

General rules established in 2001, first offset issued in 2005 

Joint Implementation

Annex-1 parties to the Kyoto Protocol 

Project-based offset mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol

General rules established in 2001.

Offset features of mandatory cap-and-trade systems

European Union Emissions Trading Scheme

27 EU Member states, as well as Norway, Iceland, and Lichtenstein

Mandatory cap-and-trade program with offsets as a limited compliance mechanism

Started in 2005

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

Northeast US states:  CT, DE, ME, NH, NJ, NY, VT, MA, RI, and MD 

Regional cap-and-trade with offsets as limited compliance mechanism 

Started in 2009

Western Climate Initiative

Western states (AZ, CA, MT, NM, OR, UT, and WA) and Canadian provinces (BC, MB), Ontario and Quebec.

Under development. Regional cap and trade system with offsets as potential compliance mechanism 

Start expected in 2012

Midwest Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord

6 Midwest US states: (Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin) and 1 Canadian province (Manitoba)

Under development. Regional cap and trade system with offsets as potential compliance mechanism 

Start expected in 2012

Canada’s Offset System for Greenhouse Gases

Canada

Under development. National emission reduction targets with offsets as proposed compliance mechanism

Rules expected in 2008

Australian Carbon Pollution Abatement Scheme

Australia

Under development. National cap and trade system proposed with offsets as potential compliance mechanism.

Start expected by 2010.

New South Wales Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme

NSW, Australia

State per capita-based cap and trade system with offsets as unlimited compliance mechanism

Started in January 2003

Offset features of voluntary cap and trade systems

Chicago Climate Exchange

Originally only in the US but has been expanded. International membership now possible.

Voluntary compliance cap and trade with offsets as unlimited compliance mechanism

Launched in 2002

Offset features of other GHG systems

Alberta Offset System

Canadian province of Alberta 

Provincial intensity-based emission regulations allow for unlimited offsets as a compliance option

Started in July 2007

State power plant rules (OR, WA, MA)

Oregon

Legislated emission standard

OR: Started in 1997

Washington

Legislated emission standard

WA: Started in 2003

Massachusetts 

State cap with offsets as limited compliance mechanism 

MA: Started in 2006

British Columbia Emission Offset Regulation

British Columbia

Provincial compliance program for the public sector with offsets as unlimited compliance mechanism.

Started in 2008

Climate Leaders 

Primarily US

Voluntary compliance program with offsets as unlimited compliance mechanism.

Launched in 2002

GHG Accounting Protocols 

WBCSD/WRI GHG Protocol for Project Accounting 

Not defined

GHG Project Accounting Protocol 

Published in 2005

ISO 14064-2

Not defined

GHG Project Accounting Protocol 

Launched in 2006

Voluntary standards for offset projects and retailers

Climate Action Reserve

US (mainly California)

Full-fledged voluntary GHG offset project standard

Active since 2008 (its predecessor, the California Climate Action Registry (CCAR) was established in 2002)

Gold Standard

International

Full-fledged voluntary GHG offset project standard

Launched in 2003

Voluntary Carbon Standard 2007

International

Full-fledged voluntary GHG offset project standard

Launched in 2007. Version 1 launched in 2006.

VER+

International

Full-fledged voluntary GHG offset project standard

Launched in 2007

American Carbon Registry

International

Full-fledged voluntary GHG offset project standard

Rebranded in 2008 (its predecessor, the GHG Registry was launched in 1997)

Climate Community and Biodiversity Standards

International

GHG offset project design standard for bio-sequestration projects with focus on co-benefits

Launched in 2005

Plan Vivo

Developing countries

Voluntary GHG offset project standard with focus on co-benefits

First project started in 1994

Social Carbon Methodology

Developing countries (currently Brazil only)

GHG offset project design standard with focus on co-benefits

First project started in 1998

Green-e Climate Protocol for Renewable Energy 

US

Voluntary GHG offset project design standard for renewable energy projects

Launched in 2007

Green-e Climate Program

US focus/International 

Voluntary certification program for retailers

Launched in 2007

Carbon Finance Funds

World Bank Carbon Finance Funds

International

Offset Fund

Launched in 2000