Carbon offsets—an environmental solution that’s been the subject of much conversation recently. Largely supported and yet widely criticized, what exactly are carbon offsets and what purpose do they serve in helping save the environment? What are the major pros and cons? And how might we utilize these as beneficial tools in the future?
Let’s talk about it.
We’re starting with the basics: what is it? A carbon offset is a credit that represents one metric ton of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere as the result of an environmental project somewhere in the world. These projects are diverse and can consist of tree planting and forestry management, methane and landfill gas capture, or even renewable energy development. Offset projects can also be community focused, such as the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) project in Ethiopia that provides clean water to families, reducing carbon emissions by eliminating the need to burn firewood in order to boil water. Another example is the Darfur Sudan Cookstove Project, which provides low-smoke stoves to families in order to reduce indoor pollution–reducing both carbon output and health complications resulting from cooking smoke.
Individuals and businesses can purchase carbon offsets to counter balance (or “offset”) their carbon output; thus, reducing their carbon footprint. And how do we make sure these credits are legitimate? Through official and rigorous certification programs like the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), the Gold Standard, or the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).
Carbon offsets can be an incredibly beneficial tool, encouraging businesses to track their own carbon footprints and identify hot spots in the supply chain in order to better meet sustainability and net zero goals. However, there are also many examples of misuse of offsets, from businesses using them for greenwashing tactics to carbon credits going to environmental projects that don’t have the impact that was originally anticipated.
As we talk about carbon offsets, it’s important to remember that these are a supplemental tool to help drive finance to slow-carbon projects; they are NOT a solution to completely eliminate the direct emissions emitted by corporates in and of themselves. These offsets are part of the transition to a low carbon future and not a permanent solution. It’s far more critical that individuals, businesses, and governments look to see how we can cut our direct carbon emissions. Offsets should then be used for those emissions that are simply unavoidable (such those emissions created by the aviation industry, for example. At least for the time being.)
It’s time to turn to the pros and cons of carbon offsets. What makes offsets a unique and valuable resource, and what considerations could be made when it comes to the negative usages of offsets?
The demand for carbon offsets is predicted to increase dramatically by 2030. According to ViewPoint, the offset market, which reached $2 billion in 2021 (a number that quadrupled in value from previous measurements), is expected to reach roughly $40 billion by the end of the decade.
Because of this growing popularity and the value and role offsets play, we are in need of significant oversight. Country regulations and the universal adoption of certification would make it much easier for individuals to confirm that the carbon offset program they choose is not just legitimate, it’s actually helping to improve the world. Until this happens, we are all responsible for doing our due diligence when it comes to verifying the programs we support.
And finally, we must continue to remember that offsets are not a replacement for reducing emissions. These two actions MUST be done in tandem in order for us to achieve our global net zero goals. When used properly, offsets are an invaluable tool that will help us transition to a more sustainable future.
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Regenerative agriculture is the practice of enriching the land through farming and other agricultural practices; an effort that has been led by Indigenous Communities for thousands of years. Rather than stripping the ground of its nutrients, regenerative practices add to the health and strength of the soil and the overall ecosystem. In essence, it’s a decolonization of agriculture. 1“Regenerative Agriculture 101,” Natural Resources Defense Council ≫; “Native Growers Decolonize Regenerative Agriculture,” Green America ≫
Regenerative agriculture, as noted by One Earth, is “a pathway to an abundant and resilient future . . . shifting from the narrative of human dominion to one of healing our relationship with the Earth.” As a result, farms become more resistant to climate-related threats such as drought, flooding, and extreme shifts in temperature.2“Regenerative Agriculture and Food Systems,” One Earth ≫
Sustainable agriculture is the final step toward achieving regenerative agriculture. This is accomplished, in part, through the introduction of practices to improve environmental health, reduce the use of freshwater and harmful pesticides, and improve carbon storage in the soil.