Carbon offsetting refers to the process of supporting climate projects that reduce, avoid, or remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
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.
While carbon offsetting is not a solution by itself, it can make a real difference when combined with other emissions reduction methods, particularly within hard-to-abate industries. The path to a more sustainable lifestyle begins with reducing your carbon footprint wherever possible, and then counteracting those unavoidable emissions by purchasing carbon offsets.
What is a Carbon Offset Project?
Carbon offset projects include a range of verified activities that reduce, avoid, or remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
Some examples of offset projects include renewable energy initiatives, carbon-storing agricultural practices, converting waste to energy, afforestation and reforestation, and landfill management. By purchasing carbon offsets, you are directly supporting our portfolio of verified, high-quality climate projects.
A carbon offset refers to when a project has removed emissions from the atmosphere or avoided them altogether. To make this claim, the project must meet strict criteria set by independent third—party verifiers, ensuring that the emission reductions claimed by these projects are properly measured, the effects are permanent, and the project causes no social or environmental harm, among other technical criteria.
How Does Carbon Offsetting Work?
Carbon offsetting is a practical way to address unavoidable carbon emissions.
Simply put, our daily actions – like ordering online, taking a flight, or staying at a hotel – result in carbon emissions that can’t always be avoided. While sustainable alternatives exist for certain activities, like driving electric vehicles or powering our homes with renewable energy, these options are often inaccessible, costly, or still maintain a certain level of climate unfriendliness.
Carbon offsetting provides a means to compensate for these unavoidable emissions by supporting projects that actively work to reduce or remove equivalent volumes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This means that the unavoidable emissions you generate through your everyday activities are balanced out by the positive impact of these projects. It’s a simple yet effective way to make a positive environmental contribution and play your part in the climate movement.
- Still have Questions?
If you still have questions about what carbon offsetting is, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.
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