Interested in learning about carbon offsetting but not sure where to begin? Read on to get
your most pressing questions answered.
What is Carbon Offsetting?
What is carbon offsetting and why should I consider it?
Carbon offsetting refers to the process of supporting climate projects that reduce, avoid, or remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere to compensate for your own hard-to-abate emissions.
This support can be done by purchasing carbon credits. One carbon credit equals one metric tonne of carbon. You can choose to purchase either a full carbon credit or a portion of one, depending on the amount of estimated emissions you are looking to offset.
By purchasing a carbon credit, you are supporting and financing climate projects that reduce, avoid, or remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The volume of your support will depend on the estimated carbon footprint you are looking to offset.
These climate projects can be anywhere in the world and range from renewable energy initiatives to reforestation. By purchasing carbon offsets, you are directly supporting our portfolio of high-integrity climate projects that have verified they have either removed emissions from the atmosphere or avoided them altogether.
We all engage in everyday activities that produce carbon emissions that can’t be completely avoided. Carbon offsetting is a practical way to compensate for these unavoidable emissions by supporting projects that actively work to reduce or remove equivalent volumes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
To learn more about carbon offsetting, see our page dedicated to the topic.
Can businesses participate in carbon offsetting?
Yes, carbon offsetting is a powerful tool that businesses can leverage to meet their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals. By participating in carbon offsetting, businesses can show their commitment to responsible business practices, compensate for their carbon footprint, and appeal to stakeholders who prioritize environmental sustainability, all while contributing to climate efforts globally.
Safa encourages businesses to see carbon offsetting as part of a larger sustainability strategy, and not the primary focus. A business will experience greater success in meeting its ESG goals if it takes a holistic approach to sustainability that encompasses a combination of efficient resource use, responsible supply chain practices, and carbon offsetting for harder-to-abate operations.
Is carbon offsetting an effective long-term solution to climate change?
Safa's projects and calculators
How does Safa select which projects to support?
All offset projects offered by Safa go through a rigorous vetting process before being included. They are chosen based on carefully selected criteria and have been approved by third-party verifiers. Our priority has always been and will always be the sustainability of our practices, the protection of our environment, and the well-being of the communities involved in these projects.
Carbon offsetting is a relatively new and evolving concept, and our team is constantly on the lookout for the most up-to-date information and methodologies to bring you projects you can trust.
How much should I offset?
How can I calculate my carbon emissions?
Safa has made that incredibly easy for you by offering a range of customized calculators to understand your various emissions. These calculators can help you understand how much you emit from your daily commute, the flights you take, the packages you order, or your various business operations.
How accurate are Safa's emissions calculators?
We work with some of the best climate tech companies to provide simple, behavior-based estimates of carbon emissions. Our calculation methods are based on widely recognized emissions factors and data sources and are continuously updated to minimize any accuracy gaps.
For flights, our carbon emissions calculations follow the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Recommended Practice – RP 1726 and take into account parameters such as all scheduled flights, aircraft fuel consumption, seat configuration, and historical load factors for more than 400 airlines.
For coach/bus, we use Google Maps as the engine to compute route distances, and emission factors are from the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors.
For stays, we use the Greenview Hotel Footprinting Tool to calculate the carbon footprint of hotel stays, which follows the methodology of the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI). This tool uses data from the Cornell Hotel Sustainability Benchmarking (CHSB) Index, which includes information on energy, water, and carbon emissions from over 20,000 hotels worldwide provided by major hotel brands, operators, and owners from all regions of the world.
For cars, our Carbon emission calculations are based on distance travelled and performed using BEIS (UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy) emissions factors.
How much will offsetting my emissions cost?
The cost will vary depending on the volume of emissions you wish to offset. You can choose to offset as little or as much as you’d like, depending on your budget and goals.
Can I guarantee my money will be going to a good cause?
Absolutely, we take transparency and accountability seriously. All offset projects offered by Safa go through a rigorous vetting process to ensure they are certified as additional, measurable, auditable, permanent, and unique. We prioritize projects that align with our commitment to making a positive contribution to the environment.
When you offset your emissions, you are providing financing for these certified projects and making a measurable difference to the environment.
Where does my money go?
Your purchased offsets help fund a portfolio of carefully curated projects that either avoid or remove emissions. A modest sum of your contribution is used to help Safa sustain its operations and continue to bring you high-impact projects.
Why don’t you offer any MENA-based environmental projects?
Do I have to be based in the Middle East to use this service?
Who is CHOOOSE?
Safa’s services are hosted in collaboration with the climate tech company CHOOOSE™. CHOOOSE delivers a platform that enables both individuals and organizations to understand their carbon emissions, make more carbon-informed decisions, and support certified climate solutions around the world. For more information, please visit www.chooose.today.
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