The Concept Of Carbon Offsetting

By Brandy Russel

Carbon offsetting focuses on compensating for greenhouse gas emissions advertently or inadvertently caused by individuals and organizations. In this method, you take measures to nullify whatever bad effects your emissions have on the atmosphere by stopping environmental pollution in some other corner of the world. Thus the total rate of emissions throughout the world will not cross danger levels, and the environment will be saved from the excesses of pollution.

In theory, leading or participating in ecological campaigns in your locality, planting trees in your backyard, or doing any other task that will neutralize the harmful effects of CO2 and other toxic gases in the atmosphere, are effective ways to practice carbon offsetting. Individual action is not always possible, and thus the carbon offset system was devised, in which persons who believe themselves to be guilty of polluting the environment can give money to an organization to compensate the harm done to the atmosphere. That company then invests the funds in green projects anywhere in the world.

Organizations and governments take major initiatives in carbon offsetting and under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, the developing countries are usually paid by the developed countries for keeping the total level of emissions within safe limits.

Some people are of the opinion that the issue of harm to the environment caused by individuals is not solved by carbon offset. In both carbon offsetting and carbon trading, you pay for the harm you caused instead of actually stopping it.

But the people who recommend these methods claim that in carbon trading, financial incentives are enough to inspire companies to look for an eco-centric approach in running their business. Likewise, in case of ordinary people, a system like carbon offset permits them to enhance their eco friendly image and spread awareness about this issue. Many eminent personalities have opted for carbon offset and this has driven other people to it. The success of the system is reflected in its rapid growth over the last few years and a majority of people now acknowledge the great potential that it holds.

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