It is now commonplace knowledge among Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) that value chain decarbonisation represents the biggest obstacle towards progress in their enterprise net-zero transition journey. Across many sectors, scalable low-cost emissions reduction solutions do not exist currently. Where they do, bringing them to fruition them often requires systemic change involving alignment of interests across multiple actors. When undertaken with appropriate checks and balances, carbon offsetting can be a vital solution in the CSO’s “tool-box” to maintain impetus on the decarbonisation agenda, stay on track with science-aligned goals and signal their commitment towards broader climate action.

This article intends to aid CSOs present a persuasive case to their Boards to integrate offsetting as part of their enterprise decarbonisation strategy, and secure a suitable budget. Towards this end, we document best practices, current frameworks and standards guiding the role of offsetting, and outline a systematic approach to design and implement an enterprise carbon offset program.