What is Carbon Offsetting?
This is where CO2 is either prevented from being released into the atmosphere or is some how absorbed from the atmosphere. There are many ways of doing this but one of the most common ways is to plant trees. Trees breathe in CO2 and breathe out Oxygen so are very good ways to offset carbon emissions. The process of absorbing carbon from the atmosphere is called ′Sequestering′.
Carbon offsets are a way for individuals and businesses to balance out their greenhouse gas emissions by allocating funds to emission reduction programs e.g. If, for every 1 kg of CO2 emitted during your flight you save another 1 kg from being emitted through your support of programs such as tree planting or sustainable energy initiatives, you have offset your emissions.
To understand carbon offsetting, one must first have at least a general understanding of carbon emissions, also commonly known as “greenhouse gases”. These are atmospheric components—like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane gas—that contribute to the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is responsible for the warming of the atmosphere that, in respectable levels, makes our atmosphere capable of supporting life, but that in extreme levels like those we’ve been experiencing ever since the industrial revolution and the advent of contemporary, “modern” civilization, can make the Earth unsustainable for life. That said, carbon offsetting is any act that mitigates (or “alleviates”, “lessens”, or “diminishes”) greenhouse gas emissions. The idea behind it is that instead of reducing one’s own greenhouse gas emissions, one compensates by paying to have them reduced elsewhere. This is particularly helpful in cases where it simply isn’t feasible for an industry to cut down on its own g
Car driving and flying consume energy and produce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) – which contributes to climate change. Governments, businesses and individuals are all responsible for reducing the carbon emissions they create. You can compensate for your own emissions by paying someone to make an equivalent greenhouse gas savings. This is known as “carbon offsetting” and includes investment in projects, such as renewable energy from wind farms and hydro-plants. More and more individuals and businesses are volunteering to offset their emissions. Offsetting is not a “cure” for climate change, as the most effective way to combat climate change is to reduce our emissions. However, if done in the right way, offsetting can reduce the impact of our actions and help raise awareness of the issue.
