Guardian Article Undermines Impactful Corporate Climate Action, Relies on Biased Science

The recentGuardianarticle “Scientists raise doubts over Leon’s ‘carbon-neutral’ burgers” (20 August 2021) misportrays the climate leadership shown by Leon, a UK restaurant chain, and makes unfounded claims about Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), without having invited Verra to comment.

Leon has announcedthat it will reduce its carbon footprint by sourcing ingredients as locally as possible, switching to 100% green power and featuring menu items from alternative, low-GHG sources of protein. Leon has also announced that it will offset its residual emissions by purchasing carbon credits. These actions position Leon as a model corporate citizen that follows the recommended steps for minimizing its impact on the climate.

TheGuardianarticle both fails to acknowledge Leon’s climate leadership and also uses false and outdated allegations to dismiss the impact of the carbon credits it purchased from projects certified under the VCS.

首先，它指出“项目可信度几乎完全基于批准的[VERRA]印章。”这无视Verra在与专家协商中制定了其已验证的碳标准（VCS）并经历了许多公众磋商的事实，即每个VCS方法都经新利平台登录历公众咨询以及由独立的第三方审计员的审查，以及每个项目的审查30天的公众评论期，由独立的第三方审计员评估。换句话说，通过考虑众多专家和利益相关者的透明，强大和可靠的过程来实现VCS批准印章。

其次，“VCS显然已经改变了其方法来解决Madre de dios项目中的方法论缺点的方法”的声明事实上是错误的。Verra发布了森林保存和恢复标准的更新in early 2021, stating that the updates in question apply to the entire REDD+ framework and will have to be used by all projects (and not just one particular project), and also that they would enable “the closer integration of project activities with jurisdictional (i.e., government-led) efforts in a way that is designed to build on the strengths of each”.

These changes reflect both new internationally agreed accounting principles and could not have been developed until clear rules for national carbon accounting emerged under the Paris Agreement. They are not to be understood as addressing shortcomings of any particular project. Rather, per ourpress release, they are “the product of two years of work by experts around the globe” and “will ensure their requirements follow latest scientific findings, best practices and technology innovations.”

One-sided and imbalanced reporting that uses old and discredited information to criticize a company that serves as a model for a low-carbon future does nothing to advance real and impactful action on climate mitigation, the need for which has never been more urgent. Further, if allegations are to be made about Verra, basic journalistic integrity would require, at the very least, an invitation for Verra to comment.