Nov. 6, 2007 Six nonprofit organizations have teamed up to provide credible information on greenhouse gas offset projects, which critics say are often ineffective and poorly regulated.

The new Offset Quality Initiative (OQI) will promote a policy agenda focused on incorporating high-quality greenhouse gas offsets and other reduction mechanisms into emerging climate change policy. The partnership aims to support innovations in the offset market, exploring the interaction of voluntary and regulatory greenhouse gas reduction markets, opportunities and challenges presented by various offset project types, and recommended roles for offsets in emerging climate change policy.

The founding member organizations are: The Climate Trust, California Climate Action Registry, Environmental Resources Trust, Greenhouse Gas Experts Network, Pew Center on Global Climate Change, and The Climate Group.

As policy makers begin to design future climate legislation it will be important to have an authoritative source of information regarding effective, high-quality greenhouse gas offsets, says Janet Peace, senior research fellow at the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.

OQI plans to provide guidance on best practices for offsetting climate impact.