Second Nature is excited to introduce the latest edition of our Carbon Markets & Offsets Guidance—a comprehensive resource designed to help colleges and universities navigate the evolving landscape of carbon offset markets with integrity. This updated guidance builds upon previous versions, integrating the latest scientific insights and best practices to support institutions committed to climate action.
What’s New in This Edition?
Now in its third revision, the Guidance has been expanded to include:
- Climate justice considerations to ensure equitable approaches to offsetting.
- Participation insights for both compliance and voluntary carbon markets.
- Diverse case studies showcasing institutional engagement in carbon offsets.
- Expanded summaries of offset project types and their implications.
- Risk evaluations at the project level, informed by the latest science.
- Land management strategies for carbon sequestration and sustainability.
- Values-based offsetting approaches, helping institutions align offsetting strategies with their missions.
For colleges and universities without a formal offsets strategy, the Guidance provides practical steps for developing one—or making informed decisions even in the absence of widespread stakeholder support.
A Resource Beyond Higher Education
While tailored for the higher education sector, this document also serves as a valuable reference for professionals in corporate sustainability, policy, and environmental advocacy. As scrutiny and activity in carbon markets increase, the Guidance synthesizes critical information on carbon offsets, their integrity, and their role in climate action.
Developed Through Expert Collaboration
This publication is the result of a two-year research effort, shaped by interactions with:
- Carbon offset registries
- Project developers
- Validation and verification bodies
- Corporate buyers and ESG specialists
- Over 75 experts from Second Nature’s Climate Leadership Network, including sustainability professionals, academic offsets researchers, and Second Nature staff
Why This Matters
Carbon offsets remain a controversial but essential tool in climate action. Higher education institutions are not only offset purchasers but also leaders in climate research, identifying market flaws and advancing integrity standards. They play a critical role in educating the next generation of climate professionals—scientists, policymakers, and business leaders—who will shape the future of carbon markets.
The Carbon Markets & Offsets Guidance provides institutions with a rigorous, research-backed framework to engage in offsets responsibly, ensuring that climate action remains effective, ethical, and impactful.
Explore the new Guidance today and strengthen your institution’s approach to carbon offsets with integrity.
Acknowledgments
Second Nature would like to sincerely thank the many individuals, businesses, and higher education institutions who contributed to our latest Carbon Markets & Offsets Guidance. We are confident that this resource represents collaborative expert thinking and insights based on an intersection of the best science and the realities that campuses face in boldly leading on climate action.
We’d like to especially thank the over 75 individuals from roughly 50 institutions of higher education who participate on Second Nature’s Carbon Offsets Advisory Council, some of whom also provided editing, case studies, and citations for this resource. Each contributor and their institution is listed in the Guidance document. We would like to extend special thanks to American University, Clarkson University, Colgate University, Colorado College, Cornell University, Duke University, Loyola University Chicago, Swarthmore College, and the University of California system, UC Berkeley and The Berkeley Carbon Trading Project, UC-Merced, and UC-Santa Cruz. Individuals at these institutions provided pivotal insights and/or deep engagement with this project throughout its evolution, and the Guidance would not have been possible without their support.
