What Is Carbon Offsetting And What Does It Do?
A Positive Step Towards Climate Action
In the grand symphony of combating climate change, carbon offsetting is the harmonious note that allows us to mitigate our carbon footprint and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future. As the world collectively rallies to address the pressing challenge of global warming, carbon offsetting stands as a practical and innovative solution that empowers individuals, businesses, and nations to take meaningful action. While offsetting carbon shouldn’t be your go-to to make your business or own life more sustainable, it can be a positive tool in your wheelhouse while you aim to cut down your emissions and become carbon neutral, or even better, carbon positive!
Understanding Carbon Offsetting
At its essence, carbon offsetting is a mechanism that allows individuals or businesses to compensate for their carbon emissions by supporting projects that reduce or capture an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide (or other greenhouse gases) from the atmosphere. The idea is simple yet impactful: for every tonne of carbon emissions generated, an equivalent tonne is removed or prevented from being emitted elsewhere.
How Carbon Offsetting Works
Calculate your carbon footprint
The first step in carbon offsetting is to assess your carbon footprint, which includes the emissions produced from various activities such as travel, energy consumption, and more. This calculation helps you understand how much carbon dioxide you're responsible for. You can use our carbon calculator to get an estimate on your footprint.
Choose a carbon offset project
Once you've calculated your carbon footprint, you can choose a carbon offset project to support. These projects can include initiatives like reforestation, renewable energy projects (such as wind or solar farms), methane capture from landfills, or energy-efficient cookstove distribution in developing countries. If you choose to offset your carbon through our platform, you’ll be supporting local native forest projects right here in Aotearoa!
Purchase carbon credits
To offset your emissions, you purchase carbon credits, also known as carbon offsets. Each credit represents one metric tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent that has been reduced, captured, or avoided due to the supported project.
Funding positive change
The money you spend on purchasing carbon credits is channelled into your chosen project. This funding helps the project implement activities that reduce emissions or sequester carbon, effectively neutralising the impact of your own emissions. If you choose a Forever Forests project, your money supports activities such as native tree planting, pest control, expansion of the native forest area and effectively, you’ll be be increasing biodiversity, protecting our waterways and land erosion, plus much more!
Measuring impact
Carbon offset projects are monitored and verified by reputable organisations to ensure their effectiveness. This verification process guarantees that the claimed emissions reductions are accurate and legitimate.
The Positive Impact of Carbon Offsetting
Climate mitigation
Carbon offsetting directly contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By supporting projects that capture or reduce emissions, you actively participate in the global effort to combat climate change.
Supporting sustainable projects
Carbon offset projects are often centered around sustainable practices like renewable energy generation, reforestation, and improved waste management. Your contribution fosters these practices, driving positive change in communities and ecosystems.
Global collaboration
Carbon offsetting is a tool that transcends borders. It allows individuals, businesses, and nations from around the world to work together towards a common goal of reducing emissions and fostering a more sustainable future.
Education and awareness
Engaging in carbon offsetting encourages a deeper understanding of personal and business carbon footprints and the environmental impact of various activities. This awareness can inspire individuals and businesses to adopt more eco-friendly behaviours.
Innovation and investment
The funding from carbon offsetting encourages the development and expansion of innovative projects that contribute to emissions reduction and carbon capture technologies.
A Brighter Tomorrow through Carbon Offsetting
Carbon offsetting isn't just a transaction; it's a pledge to take responsibility for our actions and their impact on the planet. By participating in this meaningful practice, we embrace the power of positive change. Carbon offsetting isn't a standalone solution to climate change, but it's a significant step in the right direction – a journey towards a world where sustainability, innovation, and collaboration intertwine to create a brighter, more resilient future for all.