What are greenhouse gas emission offsets?
A greenhouse gas emission offset is an offset or credit usually generated by a project that has reduced or removed greenhouse gases emitted during a certain time period. Offsets may be issued and tracked through a central authority, or they may also be purchased directly from project owners. Also, offsets are not created until after the reduction or removal of the harmful gas has occurred. The projects, which may be located worldwide, include agricultural methane, biomass, energy efficiency and fuel switching, methane capture from landfills and coal mines, and renewable energy projects. For example, many landfills emit methane, a greenhouse gas. Many project owners are taking the extra step of capturing that methane and using it to generate electricity. If left untreated in open landfills, this landfill gas is released into the atmosphere, creating an environmental liability. However, its recovery and management significantly reduces such GHG emissions and also presents an opportunity
