The PAS 2060 Standard is a specification that details how to demonstrate CO2 neutrality that was produced and published by the BSI (British Standards Institution) in 2009.
The standard was introduced with the aim to increase the levels of transparency in claims of carbon neutrality by standardising definitions and recognised methods of achieving this status. It is, at present, the only internationally recognised standard of its kind, so is an important specification to be aware of if you'd like to demonstrably turn your organisation or company carbon neutral.
How do you comply with PAS 2060?
In order to ensure that your claims of carbon neutrality are in line with PAS 2060 standards, you must follow the following stipulations. These specifications define a standard package of measures and requirements that all entities (whether an organisation, community, individual or even government) must meet.
Firstly, all the measures of carbon footprints must include 100% of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, in addition to all Scope 3 emissions that contribute greater than one percent of the total emissions.
Secondly, the entity must create a 'Carbon Management Plan', containing a clear public commitment to neutralising their carbon footprint, and outlining major aspects of their carbon reduction strategy (including the time scale, particular targets for these reductions, the scheduled methods of meeting these reductions and the means by which any residual emissions can and will be neutralised through offsetting).
When it comes to offsetting, PAS 2060 requires that the total of these residual emissions are offset by 'high-quality, certified carbon credits' which can be shown to tick the following boxes:
• They are from one of schemes which have been approved by PAS 2060 (e.g. VCS)
• They can be proved to be genuinely additional reductions (not those which would have taken place regardless)
• They have been verified by a third party, independent body in order to ensure that said reductions are permanently in place and to prevent any so-called 'leakage' (where emissions are increased in one area as a direct result of a corresponding reduction) or double counting.
• The credits are 'retired' to a credible registry after a period of one year (maximum).
Increasing transparency in the Carbon Offsetting and neutrality market
Ensuring that the Carbon Offsetting market is as transparent as possible is one of DGB's greatest aims - it is important for the consumer, the investor and, most importantly, the planet. We aim to go one step further than other players, ensuring that the highest standards are kept at every step of our mission to reforest the planet and protect nature. Using internationally recognised standards such as PAS 2060 is important and, as the first publicly listed company investing in nature-based solutions, we always ensure that anyone who joins us on our mission can be safe in the knowledge of DGB's real, on-the-ground impact.
