Opening up storylines of co-benefits in voluntary carbon markets: An analysis of household energy technology projects in developing countries

Abstract

This paper analyses how co-benefits have been conceptualized by experts and practitioners in household energy technology carbon offset projects. Offset projects, where emissions in one place are compensated through reducing emissions elsewhere, are justified on the basis of providing local development co-benefits in addition to global emissions reductions. What constitutes a co-benefit, who is entitled to it and what range of issues co-benefits address has received little attention. Three types of household energy technologies that have been popular in voluntary carbon markets are analyzed: improved cookstoves, biogas digesters and ceramic water purifiers. The co-benefits of these technologies are conceptualized by experts and practitioners through three different storylines: achieving health benefits, challenging carbon credit ownership and creating sustainable local markets. While the first and last storylines have been dominant, they also contain a tension over supporting local production of the technologies in developing countries versus importing more efficient technologies. The storyline of carbon credit ownership is more marginal. Opening up the different storylines of co-benefits demonstrates that behind offset projects lie different motivations and interests. How the co-benefits of household energy technologies are conceptualized influences what type of projects are successful in voluntary carbon markets and how voluntary offsets are governed.