Global carbon offset standard setter okays three deforestation project types

LONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - A global standard setter for voluntary carbon projects has approved three new methods for projects that reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), aiming to restore confidence in the market.

Preserving forests is crucial to meeting international goals to limit global temperature increases to prevent the most extreme consequences of global warming.

In the voluntary carbon market, companies can buy credits from projects that avoid emissions such as cleaner cooking fuels or deforestation prevention schemes across the world and use them to meet their internal carbon-cutting targets.

REDD+ projects have been under huge scrutiny over the past few years after media reports cast doubt over whether several projects preserved as much forest as they had claimed and that the communities involved did not benefit as much as expected.

The Integrity Council for the Voluntary...
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