Policy Options for Transitioning from Voluntary to Federal Offsets Markets

This primer examines the options for transitioning from the current diversified voluntary offsets market to a more standardized federal offsets program expected as part of an economy-wide cap-and-trade program. It was developed with input from a working group on offsets transition that first met in August 2009 as part of a broader effort by the Nicholas Institute to convene researchers, Congressional staff, and various stakeholders to explore ways of containing the overall cost of climate legislation.