Carbon Offsetting

A carbon offset is a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction that is used to counterbalance, or offset, a GHG emission. They are sometimes also referred to as carbon credits, VERs, or CERs.

'What is a carbon offset?’ diagram

A carbon offset occurs when an individual or organization emits a given amount of GHG emissions but invests in measures that remove the equivalent volume of GHG emissions from the atmosphere or prevent the emissions from taking place at all. Carbon offsets are a financial instrument that represents this reduction in GHG emissions.

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How to Offset
Carbon offsetting offers businesses and individuals the opportunity to offset unavoidable emissions with reduction activities elsewhere. Based on the global premise that GHG emissions have the same net effect regardless of where they’re released, you can take positive action against climate change by offsetting your unavoidable emissions through an investment in a new, clean energy project located anywhere in the world.

GHG emissions can be determined by conducting a GHG emissions audit, or by using a carbon calculator. You or your business then pays a specific amount according to the emissions you are responsible for producing. This money is invested directly in carbon offset projects that reduce GHG emissions elsewhere.

When you decide to offset, it’s important to ensure that your offset investment goes to projects that are developed to rigorous standards to ensure high quality carbon offsets. These include the Gold Standard, The Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS), and various government-regulated standards.

You can be confident that every offset provided to you by Offsetters meets these high standards.

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Offsetting makes a real and lasting difference
Carbon offsets are part of the solution. When you engage in an activity that emits greenhouse gases, you can balance out that emission by purchasing a carbon offset. These emission reduction credits directly support projects and activities that result in GHGs being avoided or reduced.

Offsets do two important things:

1. Support the overall reduction of carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

2. Invest directly into clean technologies of the future.

While your emissions, from flying or driving for example, have still occurred, your offset purchase has enabled a reduction of GHGs elsewhere.

We invest your money only in projects that permanently and immediately reduce the amount of GHG emissions entering the atmosphere. With every project, we can demonstrate the environmental and social benefits of the technology or process that we’re supporting. So your investment not only offsets your own emissions, but also promotes the mainstream adoption of alternative energy systems that will ultimately reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Only emission reductions that are real, additional (they wouldn’t have happened without the carbon market), measurable, permanent and verified will qualify as high quality offset credits.