What is it?
Meta-framework issued or operated by University of Oxford (Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment).
Regulatory recognitionAcademic reference principles; widely cited in offsetting policies and litigation context
Standards & schemes · Meta-framework
Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Offsetting
University of Oxford (Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment)
Which version is current?
Profile version 2. Official information last verified 24 August 2026.
Who and what does it cover?
- Geography
- Global
- Sectors
- Corporate offsetting
- Scope
- Company claim
What does it require?
Four principles for credible offsetting: cut emissions first; shift remaining offsetting to removals; shift to long-lived storage; support development of net-zero-aligned markets. Revised 2024 edition strengthens integrity and transparency requirements.
What it does not demonstrateThe framework provides principles or alignment guidance; it does not by itself certify performance or establish legal compliance.
How is conformity assessed?
Principles only; no assurance mechanism
Grievance mechanism—
Who makes the decision?
University of Oxford (Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment)
Assurance arrangementPrinciples only; no assurance mechanism
Chain of custody
Not specified in this profile
ISEAL membership—
Conditional relationships
Claims it may support
A relationship does not mean that the standard proves or validates every use of a claim.
Legal context
Laws referencing it
No reviewed law references are published.
Dictionary
Dictionary concepts
No reviewed dictionary cross-link is published.
Version record
What has changed
- Version 2Initial profile published after recorded site-owner/editor review of the complete standards batch.
- Version 1Initial private editorial draft imported from the reviewed standards handover.
Last verified 24 August 2026. This neutral profile is informational and does not recommend, rank or endorse the standard.