Understanding how carbon offset projects work can be confusing, especially when you come across terms like "additionality." This guide breaks down what additionality means in simple terms, with everyday examples to make it easier to understand. It also explains why additionality is important, clears up common misunderstandings, and shows how experts decide if a project is "additional." Our goal is to help you feel confident in what you read and hear about climate projects and offsets. By the end, you will have a straightforward understanding of additionality, helping you make sense of the projects you might come across, including those featured on ClimeOne.

What Is Additionality?

Additionality is a way to check if a carbon offset project really adds something extra to the fight against climate change. It asks: "Would this project have happened anyway, even without someone paying to offset emissions?" If the answer is no, then the project is considered "additional" because it creates new benefits beyond what would have happened without support.

Everyday Examples of Additionality

Think about planting trees. Say a community plans to plant trees in a park regardless of any outside help. If a carbon offset project pays for trees in this same park, the trees wouldn’t be "additional" because they were going to be planted anyway.

Now imagine a factory wants to switch to cleaner energy but hasn’t planned to do so because of cost. If funding from an offset project helps make this switch possible, that change is "additional," as it wouldn’t have happened without the extra support.

Why Does Additionality Matter?

Additionality matters because carbon offsets are meant to create *new* positive changes for the environment. If a project happens regardless of offset funding, paying for it doesn't really reduce more emissions than before. Ensuring projects are additional helps make sure offsetting has a real impact on climate change.

Common Misconceptions About Additionality

• "All tree planting projects are additional." Not necessarily. If the trees would have been planted anyway, they don’t count as additional.
• "A project is additional if it sounds good." The project's actual impact and timing matter more than how it sounds.
• "If a project gets money, it’s additional." Some projects receive funding for reasons unrelated to carbon offsets and might have proceeded without offset payments.

How Is Additionality Evaluated?

Experts look at several factors to judge additionality. They ask questions like:

• Would this project have happened without the offset money?
• Are there barriers, like costs or laws, that offset funding helps overcome?
• Is the project creating reductions that go beyond what is required by law or common practice?

While this evaluation involves careful study and estimates, it’s not an exact science. Different projects and experts may vary in their conclusions, but the goal is to be as clear and honest as possible about a project’s true effect.

How ClimeOne Considers Additionality

At ClimeOne, careful attention is given to additionality when selecting carbon offset projects. We look for projects that are likely to create extra, real benefits for the climate—beyond what would have happened anyway. We work with project partners to understand how additionality is assessed and share clear information to help you make informed decisions. While no assessment is perfect, transparency about estimates and uncertainties is important to us.