What is an Additionality?
Additionality is the property of an activity being additional by adding something new to the context. It is a determination of whether an intervention has an effect when compared to a baseline.
Also refers to additionality relative to a base scenario (business as usual) in the context of carbon credits.
Background information
Additionality: In the context of crediting mechanisms, emission reductions or removals from a mitigation activity are additional if the mitigation activity would not have taken place in the absence of the added incentive created by the carbon credits. »
Essentially, an additional project means that the only way the project would exist is because of the funding from carbon credits. In order to qualify as a genuine carbon offset, the reductions achieved by a project need to be « additional » to what would have happened if the project had not existed.
Current Impacts
What does this mean for businesses?
The concept of additionality is important as only carbon credits from projects that are “additional to” the business-as-usual scenario represent a net environmental benefit. Without the “additionality” requirement, there is no guarantee that the emissions reduction activities will lead to a reduction of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Next Steps
It is important to read project documentation and understand how projects are created. It’s important to ask these questions while selecting projects for carbon credits:
Do the arguments with regard to additionality make sense?
Is it clear that the sale of carbon makes a difference in project operations?
Learn More!
Take our EcoLearn courses to find out more about additionalities and what they mean for your business!
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesnonprofitcouncil/2021/10/01/the-concept-of-additionality-in-the-voluntary-carbon-market-explained/?sh=e7e110878ecb
