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Global warming is caused by the build up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from human activity, primarily the burning of fossil fuels to provide the energy and services we use every day. We burn fossil fuels for electricity (from coal and gas) in our homes and businesses, our cars, flights and to create the food, clothes and other things we buy and consume every day.
Carbon offsets enable individuals and businesses to reduce the CO2 emissions they are responsible for by offsetting, reducing or displacing the CO2 in another place, typically where it is more economical to do so. Carbon offsets typically include renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects.
Carbon emission offsetting can be used to offset the inevitable CO2 pollution after you have done your best to try to avoid the pollution in the first place. The danger of carbon offsetting is to postpone real solutions to solve the problem of global warming and other pollution. To the big nay sayers we would like to say: do you manage to live completely pollution-free? (Even the production of PV solar panels requires energy, usually not clean energy!) How to become climate neutral (Wikipedia)
Key points to look for when choosing an offsetting service: is ther any other way this pollution can be prevented or reduced before offsetting, is the carbon offsetting service verified, do their projects offer ‘additionality’?
Example: a mid-sized 30 mpg car driving 12,000 miles/year will create about 3.55 tons of CO2/year. Using the carbon calculator of one of the companies which are listed here, we figured this would cost only about $19.50 or $1.63/month to be offset! Please take into account that depending on the project, it may take from several to many years before the offset actually brings your CO2 balance to zero. This means that CO2 pollution will still increase and will need some years to get to zero. Also, do not forget that other pollution is also involved (noise, other chemicals) and may not be reduced to zero by offsetting. Offsetting is not a free ticket to business as usual!
Read also:
How can a gallon of gasoline produce 20 pounds of carbon dioxide? (fueleconomy.gov)
It is up to each of us to clean our own mess, obviously the government can’t and won’t do it (alone). Signing up with any of these programs might effectively reduce your CO2 contributions to ZERO! (All prices in US$ or British Pound where indicated)
STUDY (3/25/2009):
Flight Emissions Calculator Comparison
This survey is strictly copyright of EcoBusinessLinks.com and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without written permission
Ecobusinesslinks.com Carbon Offset Survey | ||||||
| Carbon Offset Provider | Price/Metric Tonne | Non-profit | Projects Types | Project Choice | Offset Types | Product Certification/ Verification* (Links see below table) |
| ClimeCo USA | $12.50 | Yes | Renewables, Efficiency, Reforestation | Yes | Home, Car, Air, Events, Business | Environmental Resources Trust, Climate Community and Biodiversity Standards, UNFCCC JI |
| Native USA | $18.00 | No | Renewables, Methane | Yes | Home, Car, Air, Events, Business | Voluntary Carbon Standard, Gold Standard, Climate Action Reserve, Clean Development Mechanism, or Joint Implementation under the Kyoto Protocol |
| Ostrom Climate Canada | CA$26.00 (CER’s) | No | Renewables, Efficiency, Methane | No | Personal, Business | Choice of Gold Standard |
| carbonzero Canada | CA$20.00-30.00 | Yes | Efficiency | No | Car | |
| Bonneville Environmental Foundation USA | $10.00 | Yes | Renewables | No | Home, Air, Business, Event | Green-e Climate Certified |
| Myclimate Switzerland | CHF24.00 | Yes | Renewables | Yes | Air, Events, Business | Designated Operational Entity |
Services Accredited by or Products from CDM only | ||||||
| Clear UK | £12.99 | No | Various, depending on CDM offset projects | No | Car, Air, Motorbike Home, Commute, Business | CDM |
| 1. Offset Types: There are hundreds of potential offset types. We have limited our survey to just the most common. |
| 2. Verification: “n/a” means we were unable to determine a third-party verification body. The projects may, however, be verified. |
| 3. Choice: refers to whether customers may choose between project types and/or specific projects. |
| 4. Price: prices change and exchange rates fluctuate. The data listed was first gathered from the respective websites July 21, 2006 |
| 5. Other offset providers may exist. This survey provides a cross section of the industry, projects may be added or removed over time. |
| 6. Some information may be incomplete or has changed. We welcome updates. |
| * Please make sure that additionality is offered by the offsetting projects. |