To qualify for LEED, carbon offsets must be which of the following?

Carbon offsets are a mechanism that allows projects to compensate for their emissions by supporting equivalent reductions elsewhere. To qualify for LEED certification, it's essential that the carbon offsets meet specific standards of credibility and reliability. The correct answer emphasizes the need for carbon offsets to be certified by recognized programs such as Green-e Climate or an equivalent certification.

Certification through Green-e Climate ensures that the offsets represent real, measurable, and permanent emissions reductions. This means they are produced in a verifiable manner and adhere to strict environmental standards, providing assurance to LEED that the environmental benefits are legitimate and accountable. By requiring offsets to meet such recognized standards, LEED aims to maintain the integrity of the certification process and to ensure that the efforts in carbon mitigation contribute positively to global climate goals.

In contrast, while other types of certification or recognition might be valuable, they may not carry the same weight in terms of accountability or regulation as those specifically established by trusted organizations like Green-e Climate.