Carbon Offsetting | All You Should Know

 

 

Carbon offsetting is a way for individuals and businesses to compensate for their carbon emissions by funding carbon-reducing projects around the world. Currently, however, the offer of carbon offsetting by some companies is generating controversy. We explain why. 

 

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The concept of carbon offsetting has its roots in the 1990s, when the idea of a "carbon market" began to take shape. One of the earliest examples of carbon offsetting was the "Chicago Climate Exchange" (CCX), which was launched in 2003. The CCX was a voluntary carbon trading market where companies could buy and sell carbon credits. This provided companies with a way to offset their own emissions by purchasing credits from companies that had reduced their emissions below their set limits.

The most well-known carbon offsetting program is the "Clean Development Mechanism" (CDM), established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2005. The CDM allows companies in industrialized countries to invest in carbon-reducing projects in developing countries and earn certified emissions reductions (CERs) which can be used to offset their own emissions.

 

 
 

CONTROVERSY ABOUT CARBON OFFSETTING

However, carbon offsetting has not been without controversy. Critics argue that carbon offsetting can be used as a way for companies to continue emitting high levels of carbon while still being able to claim to be "carbon neutral." This is because offsetting allows companies to purchase carbon credits rather than actually reducing their own emissions.

Another issue is the lack of transparency and regulation in the carbon offset market. This has led to some companies taking advantage of the system by investing in projects that would have occurred anyway or by exaggerating the emissions reductions of their projects.

Additionally, carbon offsetting can be seen as a way for wealthy countries and companies to avoid taking responsibility for reducing their own emissions, instead shifting the burden to developing countries.

A way to solve these problems would be to increase transparency and regulation in the carbon offset market. This could include setting standards for carbon offset projects and requiring independent verification of emissions reductions. Another solution would be to focus on investing in carbon reduction projects within the country or region where emissions are occurring, rather than relying on offsetting.

According to a study by the Carbon Trust, in 2018 the global carbon offset market was worth $176 billion, with the majority of offset projects taking place in China and India. A study by the World Bank estimated that carbon offsetting could potentially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by up to 5 billion tonnes of CO2 per year by 2020.

In conclusion, carbon offsetting is a way for individuals and businesses to compensate for their carbon emissions by funding carbon-reducing projects around the world. However, it is not without its flaws, with critics arguing that it can be used as a way for companies to avoid reducing their own emissions and the lack of transparency and regulation in the carbon offset market. Increasing transparency and regulation, and focusing on investing in carbon reduction projects within the country or region where emissions are occurring, would be a step in the right direction to make carbon offsetting a more effective tool in the fight against climate change.

 
 
 
 

HOW NOT TO FEEL GUILTY WHEN YOU FLY

Some airlines offer carbon offsetting as an option for customers to purchase when booking a flight, with the offsetting being done by other companies.

In this case, it is important to ensure that the carbon offsetting projects being funded are legitimate and effective in reducing or removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. There are organizations, such as the Verified Carbon Standard and the Gold Standard, that certify and verify carbon offset projects to ensure they meet certain standards. Customers can check if the offsetting projects being used by the airline are certified by one of these organizations.

However, it's also worth noting that carbon offsetting is not a long term solution, it's more of a band-aid solution for the companies who wants to reduce the emissions, it would be more effective for the companies to invest in more sustainable practices and technology to reduce their emissions in the first place.

 
 

+ Highlight Image: © Frame Arirak via Unsplash


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Luxiders Magazine