Berkeley Carbon Trading Project

About the Project

The Berkeley Carbon Trading Project, led by Barbara Haya and housed at the Center for Environmental Public Policy (CEPP), combines interdisciplinary research with policy outreach focused on the effectiveness of carbon trading programs. The project is currently focused on California’s carbon offset program, which is expected to contribute substantially to how the state will achieve its emissions targets and to offer a potential model for other new offset programs around the world.

The Berkeley Carbon Trading Project’s approach is multifaceted and includes:

  • Assessing the outcomes of California’s domestic offset protocols
  • Providing input into the proposed expansion of California’s offset program, including a jurisdictional tropical forest offset program
  • Ensuring that our research results inform policy enactment and implementation in California, and new offset programs being developed by other states and internationally

Publications

Managing Uncertainty in Carbon Offsets: Insights from California’s Standardized Approach, Barbara Haya, Danny Cullenward, Aaron L. Strong, Emily Grubert, Robert Heilmayr, Deborah Sivas, & Michael Wara. (2020). Climate Policy, DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2020.1781035.

The California Air Resources Board’s US Forest offset protocol underestimates leakage, Goldman School of Public Policy Working Paper, updated May 7, 2019.

Carbon Offsets in California: Science in the Policy Development Process, Barbara Haya, Aaron Strong, Emily Grubert, Danny Cullenward. (2016). Book chapter in: In New Trends in Communicating Risk and Resiliency: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Global Environmental Change, eds. J. Eichelberger, K. Taylor & Y. Kontar. Springer.

Comment letters, fact sheets, and presentation

Comments on the Initial Recommendations of the Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets (TSVCM), submitted to the TSVCM January 5, 2021

Comments on ARB’s proposed endorsement of the Tropical Forest Standard: environmental integrity concerns, submitted to the California Air Resources Board on August 29, 2019.

Joint comments on the challenges of monitoring the implementation of California's proposed Tropical Forest Standard, submitted to the California Air Resources Board on August 29, 2019.

Joint comment letter from 110 social and conservation scientists on California’s proposed Tropical Forest Standard (TFS), submitted to the California Air Resources Board on November 14, 2018.

California’s cap-and-trade and offsets programs – Lessons for Oregon, Presentation to Engineers for a Sustainable Future, co-organized with Center for Sustainable Economy. October 9, 2018. Portland, OR.

Joint comments submitted to the California Air Resources Board on methods for determining whether offset projects result in Direct Environmental Benefits in the State (DEBS), Submitted July 20, 2018.

Comments submitted to the California Air Resources Board on proposed amendments to the state's cap-and-trade regulation, Submitted May 10, 2018.

Comments submitted to the California Air Resources Board on proposed amendments to the state's cap-and-trade regulation, Submitted Mar. 16, 2018.

Fact Sheet: The Size of California’s Carbon Offset Program, last updated June 12, 2018.

Fact Sheet: California’s U.S. Forest Offset Protocol Over-credits Reductions, prepared June 6, 2017.

Comments submitted to the California Air Resources Board on the state’s draft Climate Change Scoping Plan Update – the proposed strategy for achieving California’s 2030 greenhouse gas target, Submitted Nov. 21, 2016.

Comments submitted to the California Air Resources Board on the state’s proposed REDD program and linkage with Acre, Brazil, Submitted June 4, 2016.

California’s Carbon Offsets Program — the Offset Limit Explained. This slide deck visually describes California’s offsets limit, and offers the data tables in a separate tab.

Blog Posts

AB 398’s use of excess carbon credits instead of real reductions, July 17, 2017.

In the News