What is carbon offsetting?

Carbon offsetting is the process of balancing out emissions produced by purchasing carbon offset units which represent a specific reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Carbon offsets are generated by projects that reduce, remove or capture greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere. For example, a project may reduce emissions by improving energy efficiency, or capture emissions by reforesting land.

These projects must meet strict standards to be able to earn carbon offsets. These offsets can then be sold. By purchasing a carbon offset, an individual or organisation helps to fund a project.

To use the carbon offset unit to balance out an emission elsewhere, the offset is ‘surrendered’ or ‘retired’ so that no one else can claim the benefit of these units.

How is carbon offsetting relevant to people in the local and global community?

Every one of us contributes to climate change through our day to day activities.

We all use an appliance or machinery of some sort, whether it’s a personal vehicle or public transport, household appliances including heating and cooling, and even the food we eat, and the waste we produce.

Carbon offsetting is also something that organisations around the world are starting to do, and also offering to their customers. Many are committed to becoming net zero which means that they will actively seek to reduce their emissions (e.g. by using renewable electricity) and then offset ay emissions they can’t avoid so that their net carbon footprint is zero.

We can all help to reduce emissions by changing our behaviours or choosing cleaner alternatives. But in some cases, it’s difficult to avoid making emissions which is where carbon offsetting comes in.

By purchasing and retiring carbon offsets we can balance out our emissions so that we reduce our contribution to climate change.

What are emissions?

Greenhouse gas emissions are created in a number of ways, such as when fossil fuels are burnt or natural gas is used to heat your home.

The most common greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide but there are also others such as methane and nitrous oxide. These gases take a long time to break down in the atmosphere – up to hundreds or thousands of years.

The build-up of these gases in the atmosphere acts like a blanket around the earth, causing the planet to warm and the climate to change.

We are already seeing the impact of climate change and this will get more extreme over time, negatively affecting our environment and communities in both the short and long term.