NET ZERO
Carbon offsetting allows companies to meet sustainability and carbon neutrality targets , but will it ever really be part of a successful net-zero strategy ?
WRITTEN BY : CHARLIE STEER-STEPHENSON
Carbon offsetting continues to stir debate in the world of sustainability . The process involves investing in environmental schemes that set out to reduce greenhouse gas ( GHG ) emissions elsewhere in the world , therefore allowing a company to compensate for its own release of carbon into the atmosphere . Recently , carbon offsetting has come under scrutiny due to the controversial nature of this ‘ counterbalancing ’ premise ; we are increasingly being urged to consider whether it ’ s actually just another form of greenwashing .
The practice of carbon offsetting involves companies purchasing ‘ carbon credits ’ from project developers like Green Mountain Energy , which are then used to fund different carbon offsetting projects . one credit = the equivalent of one tonne of carbon dioxide . There are three main categories of offsetting projects :
TTING ABLE ION ?
• Carbon removal projects , aiming to remove emissions already in the atmosphere ( e . g . afforestation or direct air carbon capture ).
• Avoidance projects which aim to avoid the release of emissions ( e . g . nature-based conservation schemes to prevent forest destruction ).
• Reduction projects which aim to reduce the amount of emissions released ( e . g . circular waste management programmes ).
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