Thesis supervisor:
Voluntary local carbon offsetting is one of the mechanisms that should contribute to the implementation of "carbon neutrality" in France. These projects to reduce or capture CO2 emissions are described as "voluntary" because they go beyond the regulatory framework imposed on public and private actors. From the Kyoto Protocol (1997) to the Paris Agreement (2015), the "voluntary" carbon offset market has been primarily international, with climate projects implemented in the South and financed by countries in the North. Criticized for its climate ineffectiveness at the international level, can local voluntary carbon offsetting contribute significantly to the carbon neutrality of states? This thesis aims to analyze the case of France in particular, which has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and whose government has been involved since 2017 in developing tools to support these measures at the national and local levels (Low Carbon Label). Based on field surveys, interviews, and analysis of written documents, this research aims to quantify and evaluate the contributions of local carbon offsetting to national carbon neutrality. The application of the additionality principle, the study of the incentives and disincentives of "offsetting" on the endogenous reduction of offsetting structures, and the analysis of the environmental and socioeconomic co-benefits of these projects will enable us to clarify the contributions of voluntary local carbon offsetting. This tool, which originated in climate finance, remains multidisciplinary due to the diverse nature of the projects implemented (forestry, agriculture, energy), the diversity of the actors involved (companies, intermediaries, government, local authorities), and the economic (CO2 price, CO2 value) and administrative (certification, support, verification) issues it raises. This thesis is therefore part of a socio-technical and multidisciplinary approach.
Local Voluntary Carbon Offsetting is one of the climate devices that must contribute to carbon neutrality in France. These exogenous carbon emission reduction and capture projects are called "voluntary" because they must go beyond laws and regulations. From the Kyoto Protocol (1997) to the Paris Agreement (2015), the voluntary carbon offsetting market has been mainly international. Projects were carried out in Southern countries and financed by Northern companies. Criticized for its inefficiency in its international dimension, could local voluntary carbon offsetting significantly contribute to States' carbon neutrality? The object of this thesis is to examine specifically the case of France, which has committed itself to achieving carbon neutrality in 2050, and where the State has been involved in developing tools to support these mechanisms at the national and local levels since 2017. By examining field surveys, interviews, and written documents, the aim of this research is to quantify and evaluate the local carbon offsetting inputs (or contribution) to national carbon neutrality. The application of the additionality principle, the incitement and non-incitement phenomena of "offsetting" upon endogenous reduction of offsetting structures, but also the analysis of environmental and socio-economic co-benefits of these projects will clarify the local voluntary carbon offsetting contributions. This instrument, stemming from climate finance, remains multidisciplinary due to the varied nature of the projects carried out (forestry, agriculture, energy), the diversity of the operators involved (companies, intermediaries, states, public bodies), and the economic stakes (CO2 price, CO2 value) and administrative issues (labeling, support, verification). Consequently, this thesis requires a sociotechnical and multidisciplinary approach.
Year of enrollment
: 2021
Doctoral school
: City, Transportation, and Territories (VTT)