Talk to environmental professionals about offsetting and they usually reach for a metaphorical crucifix (or equivalent in other faiths).  Of course it would be nice to take action to reduce emissions to zero but the opportunities in SMEs are often limited and there will always be a residual element unless you’re self-employed and cycle to work at a wind farm.

Offsetting offers an opportunity to engage with SMEs (especially commercially-driven Tin Men) that a 15% reduction simply doesn’t.  Yes, it might simply assuage owner guilt or blatantly promote company business but it’s a way-in and can be built on.  The people and places benefitting from the offset probably won’t complain either.

Testing whether incremental vs. quantum change impacts on successful outcomes is one of the objectives of our current Low Carbon Deviants research project.