May 21, 2025
ClimeCo experts – Emily Damon, David Prieto, David Chen, and Garrett Keraga have contributed to a new report by Conservation International, “Call for Action: Principles for High-Integrity Insetting in the Land Sector.” The report, developed with input from over 40 organizations, sets out a clear definition and six guiding principles for high-integrity insetting – actions within a company’s value chain that generate measurable greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions.
Why This Matters
Nearly one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions stem from agriculture, with value chain emissions comprising 92% of agrifood companies’ carbon footprints. The FLAG sector (Forest, Land, and Agriculture) holds immense potential for climate mitigation through insetting, but unclear standards and boundaries have hampered investment and implementation.
Six Principles for High-Integrity Insetting
The report establishes six principles to guide companies and stakeholders, providing both a practical blueprint for immediate action and a collective vision for mainstreaming high-integrity insetting across the sector by 2030:
- Prioritize Climate Impact: Focus on interventions with the most significant climate benefit within and near value chains.
- Collaborate in Landscapes & Supply Sheds: Work with partners across overlapping supply chains and regions for greater collective impact.
- Deliver Shared Value for People: Design projects in partnership with producers and communities, ensuring fair rewards and respect for rights.
- Deliver Positive Outcomes for Nature: Ensure interventions benefit biodiversity, water, and ecosystems alongside climate goals.
- Credible Claims: Support robust, transparent accounting for carbon and non-carbon outcomes.
- Efficient MRV: Implement rigorous monitoring, reporting, and verification while minimizing resource burden, especially for producers.
We applaud CI for providing action-oriented guidance. This document should give companies and investors the clarity and confidence to implement emission reduction projects, accelerating near-term climate impact, despite other frameworks remaining stuck in lengthy revision processes. CI developed its recommendations with an eye toward the ongoing revisions of the GHG Protocol and Science Based Targets Initiative’s (SBTi) Corporate Net Zero Standard. The recent release of SBTi’s CNZS V2.0 draft clarified that these Principles work well in concert with SBTi, especially given the Initiative’s new acceptance of “indirect mitigation” for value chain emissions.
ClimeCo’s Commitment
As a recognized leader in insetting, ClimeCo is proud to endorse these principles and remains committed to advancing high-integrity insetting across the land sector and in other industries.
“Achieving high-integrity insetting is not just a necessity – it’s an opportunity to drive meaningful change for businesses, communities, and ecosystems alike,” said Emily Damon, ClimeCo’s Chief Growth Officer. “We’re seeing an increasing number of customers choosing to pay a premium for environmentally responsible products – and even small increases in these customers can create an outsized impact. Working together, we can build resilient supply chains and make insetting a common practice. The path forward is clear – now is the time to act.”
We congratulate Conservation International, 3Keel, and all contributing partners on this milestone and look forward to continued collaboration to scale high-integrity insetting for climate, nature, and people.
For more information, please contact us or read the full report.
About ClimeCo
ClimeCo is an award-winning leader in decarbonization, empowering global organizations with customized sustainability pathways. Our team of respected scientists and industry experts collaborates with companies, governments, and capital markets to develop tailored ESG and decarbonization solutions. Recognized for creating high-quality, impactful projects, ClimeCo is committed to helping clients achieve their goals, maximize environmental assets, and enhance their brand. Partner with ClimeCo to drive meaningful environmental change and take your climate initiatives to new heights.
Contact us at +1 484.415.0501, info@climeco.com, or through our website climeco.com.
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