Senator Limón Introduces Legislation to Tackle Corporate Greenwashing and Consumer Fraud Caused by Junk Carbon Offsets

(SACRAMENTO) - Senator Monique Limón on Tuesday reintroduced first-in-the-nation legislation to rein in the carbon offsets market which has raked in billions from purchasers looking to offset their greenhouse gas emissions. 

SB 1036 seeks to bring much needed confidence and accountability to the voluntary offsets market by establishing truth-in-advertising rules for offsets. This bill would establish legally enforceable protections for Californians who fall victim to false claims of carbon benefits perpetrated by entities involved with the issuance, verification, marketing, or sale of offsets.

“Without first ensuring suppliers are basing these offsets in reality, consumers have little to no confidence their money is being used to protect the climate,” said Senator Monique Limón. “SB 1036 seeks to provide clear, legally enforceable standards. It is time to rein in the offsets market and give meaning back to ‘going green.’”

SB 1036 would protect consumers who are deceived into purchasing offsets that do not deliver purported climate benefits. These junk offsets not only defraud purchasers but also undermine climate goals by giving the false impression that more carbon is being reduced or removed from the atmosphere than is actually happening on the ground.

Last year Senator Limón introduced similar legislation that received strong support from both houses of the Legislature. 

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Monique Limón represents the 19th Senate District, which includes Santa Barbara, Ventura, Goleta, Buellton, Carpinteria, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Maria, Solvang, Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai, Oxnard, Santa Paula, and Port Hueneme. She currently serves as the Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus and as Chair of the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee.