What is offsetting?

The concept of offsetting isn't new. In fact, many traditional cultures practice some form of environmental offsetting. The old saying, “if you cut down a tree, plant another” conveys the basic essence of offsetting. Simple: Replace what you use.

Today, the term “offsetting” is synonymous with our impact on the environment and the task of reducing emissions and replenishing resources, ensuring we leave behind a clean planet with sufficient resources for future generations. Carbon offsetting is a way to compensate for the carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and global warming.

In 1997, Stonyfield Farm, an organic yogurt maker, became the first company to offset and become carbon neutral leading the way in responsible and ethical business. After exhausting all efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle to limit its impact on the environment, the owners of Stonyfield Farm felt this wasn't enough.

As a last effort, they teamed up with Trexler Climate and Energy Services and spearheaded the carbon-neutral movement by being the first company to completely offset the carbon emissions created in the production of its yogurt. They determined how much carbon was emitted each year and counterbalanced that amount by committing to a reforestation project in Oregon that sequestered the equivalent amount of carbon.

The Kyoto Protocol, made under the United Nations Framework on Climate Change, is an international agreement to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases. Kyoto came into effect in 2005 and its first phase runs until 2012. It was agreed that implementing the Kyoto Protocol would result in drastic reductions of carbon emissions.

The Kyoto Protocol captured world’s attention and in turn introduced the concepts of offsetting and becoming ‘carbon neutral’ as necessary and important components of climate change and global warming.

For more information on the Kyoto Protocol see: http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/kpeng.html

Why offset?

Climate Change

Naturally occurring gases exist in the earth's atmosphere regulating the sun's rays that heat the core temperature of the planet. These gases are essential to warming the earth and without them the planet would be too cold for human existence.

Until recently history, the gastric levels have remained balanced and we have experienced relatively consistent atmospheric temperatures. The problem we have now is an excess of these gases. Pollution created by industry and our ever-growing population is congesting our atmosphere with gases -specifically carbon, methane and nitrous oxide—that prevent the earth’s heat from leaving the surface and causing the atmosphere to over-heat. This is known as the “greenhouse effect” and climate change –currently, one of humanity's biggest challenges.

The rise in greenhouse gases is primarily due to energy consumption and burning of fossil fuels. In the last 20 years, over 75 % of carbon emissions have come from burning fossil fuels. The levels of carbon dioxide are 32 % higher than before the industrial era, with methane and carbon dioxide levels higher than they've been in thousands of years.

With carbon production surpassing 28 billion tonnes per year, there is an urgent need to reevaluate our reliance on of fossil fuel. At the rate we are consuming energy it is estimated that in the next 20 years, the levels of greenhouse gases will explode to over 40 billion tonnes per year with most increases occurring in developing countries like China and India.

As the earth's temperature rises it alters the natural ebb and flow of nature; melting glaciers, rising sea levels and coastal flooding, unprecedented heat waves resulting in fires and droughts and catastrophic storms are indisputable indications that the earth's sustainability is in jeopardy.

Addressing global warming is urgent. We have to respond now if we want to preserve the earth for future generations. Carbon offsetting is a proactive and progressive measure to reduce atmospheric carbon and other greenhouse gases.

Solutions to Climate Change

For hundreds of years, humans have been living on this planet leaving behind a substantial footprint causing damage to the earth and the atmosphere. As a global community we need to find creative solutions to addressing the problem of climate change. At clearfootprints.com we know that offsetting alone isn't going to solve the problem over night. It is only part of the on-going effort to change the way we live and think about our environment.

The first steps to eliminating carbon emission are reducing energy consumption, recycling our wastes and reusing what we can. Using more energy-efficient products, taking advantage of our communities recycling programs and being more thoughtful about the products we buy are steps in the right direction.

Regardless of how diligent we are in our efforts to reduce and recycle, we can’t completely eliminate our carbon emissions. Offsetting allows you to neutralize the remainder of carbon that you emit. Although we will not be able to completely eradicate our footprint, with the ensuing threat of global warming, we are all learning to tread more lightly.

With some considerate and responsible decisions-making and becoming carbon neutral, we can begin to lessen our impact on the earth. Offsetting is an integral part of the process to reduce global warming.

For more information about Climate Change, check out our sources :

The National Academies - Board on Atmospheric Science and Climate
Energy Information Administration: Official Energy Statics from the U.S. Government.

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