Carbon Offsets: Are they Saving the Future?

Carbon offsets allow you to invest your money in an environmental project to balance your carbon footprints. However, In today’s generation the burning of fossil fuels is disturbing the atmosphere. Air pollution in the form of gasses raises the Earth’s temperature. Moreover, these kinds of things are affecting climate change. 

Mostly, Carbon offsets reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the environment. These projects take place mainly in developed countries. However, they are designed to overcome future emissions. The most common way is by planting trees so they can absorb carbon dioxide.

A carbon offsets credit means an emission reduction of 1 metric ton of carbon dioxide. The reason behind all these efforts is to lessen carbon footprints. 

Carbon Offsets vs. Carbon Footprints

Carbon footprint is the total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. Moreover, these include direct and indirect sources of emissions. It belongs to a person or to a specific organization that generates. 

For these reasons, Carbon offsets were introduced to lessen the harmful gasses. However, still many people are unaware of it. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides a free carbon footprint calculator. You can use it to calculate your carbon footprint individually or collectively.

Direct emission comes from the business platforms. A practical example is a delivery vehicle that the company owns. Carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion is produced in the air. 

Indirect emission means the decomposition of raw material after the final product. For example, if you produce a T-shirt you need to grow cotton. Furthermore, the Shipping of raw materials is another task. These all things contribute to the emission of harmful gasses.

Working of Carbon Offsets

Organizations or individual persons can pursue it to fulfill the regulations. Also, they can hire a broker and pay him to remove a portion of the carbon from the air. It can be done in any part of the world. The broker calculates the total amount and charges you according to it. Further, he will invest that money in a project that removes carbon from the air. 

For example, an individual takes a flight to a certain destination. He calculates the number of greenhouse gases that release into the air. A person pays the amount, the broker subtracts its fees, and the rest is used to invest money in emission projects. Such as reforestation projects.

A person or company receives a certificate for purchasing carbon offset. So, they can prove it in the future for consent. 

Carbon credit costs you around $3-$5 per ton of carbon emission. In the future, it is expected that this price will rise greatly. 

Steps for Carbon offsets emission

Steps to offset carbon emissions can be done in the following steps:

Calculate emission

The greenhouse gas protocol is an internationally acknowledged standard that helps to calculate emissions. There are two types of emissions 

Direct emission 

It comes from sources that an organization owns.

Indirect emission

 Indirect emission comes from heating, cooling, steam, and electricity.

Measure the greenhouse gasses

 Greenhouse gasses contain gasses such as methane and nitrous oxide. Companies should regularly evaluate their carbon offsets and keep a record. 

Moreover, in the United States, organizations that emit more than 25,000 or more tons of carbon dioxide should report to EPA. However, the Environmental Protection Agency reported that the lowest threshold in California is 10,000 tons. 

Reduce emissions as much as possible

           Carbon emissions can be reduced by emphasizing the following steps:

• Use of 80% renewable energy in the future.
• Sustainable diet 
• Use of greener transportation such as electric vehicles, and hybrid trains. 

Carbon offsets remaining emissions

The remaining emission can be reduced through offsets. Use of a reduction project to remove or absorb the carbon dioxide gas. Some certified international projects are:

• Plan Vivo
• Climate Action Reserve
• Gold Standard

Certification of Project

Companies should choose a certified project that generates credit according to criteria. In addition, it should have an impact on environmental and climate change. For example, Forestry because it absorbs and removes most of the harmful gases from the air.

Once, an organization pays for the carbon credits it should be clear how the project is going to be by broker. Strategies should be clear and in support of the environment. 

Is Carbon offsets affecting climate change?

Obviously, harmful gasses are affecting climate change. It causes air pollution and diseases. The only way to overcome these harmful gasses is to use renewable energy and clean energy sources. 

Carbon offsets will not resolve climate change until the carbon emission manufacturer executes carbon neutrality. The removal and absorption of gasses is having a good impact on the environment. 

Projects related to Carbon offsetting

• Renewable energy

A great replacement for fossil fuels is renewable energy that can be generated from wind farms.

• Forestry

Deforestation causes climate change. Additionally, more trees mean more absorption of harmful gasses. Without them, global warming will get worse.

• Agriculture

Use of fertilizers to grow crops results in the emission of gasses.

• Aviation

Different Airlines have decided to minimize the creation of contrail clouds. When an airplane flies above 26,000 feet the cloud forms. 

• Clean Water Guidance 

To get clean water, polluted water is treated with chemicals. So, projects should take an action to lessen the use of chemicals. 

• Energy efficiency 

Energy efficiency can be achieved by using insulated buildings or solar panels.

• Carbon removal

There are projects which store and capture carbon in places from where it’s impossible to be released back into the air. However, the purpose is to store carbon in soils, trees, and even rocks. 

Conclusion

Carbon offsets are really important parts of our lives. It can save our future generations from global warming. Greenhouse gasses merge in the atmosphere due to any emissions, so reducing them makes a contribution to climate change. 

FAQs about Carbon Offsets

What do carbon offsets do?

Carbon offsets take place when a polluting company buys a carbon credit to compensate for the greenhouse gasses they have created in the environment. The money is then used to remove the exact amount of carbon emissions from the air. 

What is a carbon offset example?

Carbon Offsets sponsor very few projects that either lower carbon dioxide emissions or take carbon dioxide out of the environment and store it. For example, Reforestation, waste and landfill management, and the building of renewable energy such as wind farms. 

What are the pros and cons of carbon offsetting?

PROS: It removes the greenhouse gasses that are emitted into the atmosphere. It prevents us from global warming. 

CONS: Offsets are costly and they don’t have a financial return on the investment you have done.

How carbon do offsets work in Canada?

The federal OBPS “Output-Based Pricing System” is in charge to make amends for the emissions that exceed their limit. 

Why do people buy carbon offsets?

People buy carbon offsets for a more sustainable future. So, they can save the environment from harmful gasses. In addition, it’s a very feasible and productive way to look after climate change. Furthermore, it increases the growth of renewable energy. 

For more information, visit Health.