What are carbon offsets?
A carbon offset is a market-based mechanism by which the impact of emitting a ton of greenhouse gases (GHG) like carbon dioxide (CO2) can be negated or diminished by either avoiding the release of a ton elsewhere, or absorbing a ton of GHG or CO2 from the air that otherwise would have remained in the atmosphere. Renewable energy, energy efficiency, reforestation and afforestation are all strategies for offsetting. Carbon offsetting occurs whenever someone pays someone else to reduce CO2 emissions on their behalf. Although reducing your personal and business-related emissions is the best way to address global climate change, carbon offsetting is the least expensive and one of the most convenient ways to offset unavoidable emissions.
