Britain looks to raise carbon offset standards

LONDON, Jan 18 (Reuters) The British government will today launch a drive aimed at improving the quality of carbon offsetting schemes.

The public consultation aims to set standards and a code of practice for providers of offsetting schemes, such as projects to plant trees to neutralise carbon dioxide emissions caused by air travel.

Environment Secretary David Miliband said offsetting schemes were not the solution to climate change but that new standards would ''raise the bar'', the BBC reported.

A government study of dozens of offsetting projects found that only a handful were offering schemes that genuinely offered good service, the BBC said.

''It's important for offsetting really to neutralise the effect of the airplane flights and the driving and that we put the money into projects that reduce the carbon impact of energy projects especially in the developing world,'' Miliband said.

''Carbon offsetting is about much more than planting trees, it's about paying for the technology that allows countries around the world to develop but not in a way the harms the environment,'' he said.

REUTERS SP VV1415