Exxon Mobil is World's Top Buyer of Carbon Offsets

摘要

Energy companies are showing a growing interest in carbon "offsets," which are credits generated when a polluter finds a way to compensate for its emissions more cheaply elsewhere instead of reducing its own emissions. Offsets are purchased either voluntarily, as a way to meet corporate sustainability goals and gain familiarity with carbon markets, or under an obligation, to comply with carbon control policies. US oil major Exxon Mobil is the top individual buyer globally, while financial institutions are the leading sectoral buyer, followed closely by the extractive industries, according to a report from environmental finance experts Ecosystem Marketplace, which analyzed data submitted by companies to the CDP, formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project. Large-scale energy consumers such as automakers and airlines are also active in the offsets markets, the report found.