More About Offsets
Where do carbon offsets come from?
Carbon offsets can be generated by any number of "emission reduction projects." These can be any type of project that can demonstrate quantifiable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Some examples might include projects that reduce emissions by changing large industrial or agricultural operations, or might include projects that capture emissions through reforestation or storing greenhouse gases underground.
What are the benefits of using them?
A major benefit of carbon offsets is that even after you’ve reduced your driving and electricity use and taken other efficiency measures, offsets offer a way to continue reducing your overall impact on global warming — all the way to zero. The bottom line is that carbon offsets provide an additional opportunity for Americans to make significant contributions to reducing global warming.
How were these selected?
In early 2006, Environmental Defense issued a request for proposal (RFP) to identify organizations interested in submitting high-quality offsets to be featured on this site. We received an overwhelming response, with proposals from a wide range of retailers, both private companies and nonprofits. All the proposals were evaluated against the eligibility requirements and offset criteria included in the RFP. These projects were reviewed by a team of internal and external scientists, engineers, economists, and policy experts, under the direction of our chief scientist Bill Chameides. We were fortunate to be able to accept a number of proposals that were excellent matches with our criteria. These projects are featured on the site and offer visitors a number of options for purchasing high-quality offsets. Find out more about the selected projects.
How can we be sure that offsets represent actual reductions in greenhouse gas emissions?
Environmental Defense supports solutions based on sound science. We developed quality criteria to identify credible offsets based on expert and scientific review. Only carbon offsets that met these guidelines were eligible to be featured on the site. Among other things, the guidelines require that:
- Emission reductions are achieved with sound methodologies and practices.
- All emission reduction claims are verifiable by a third party.
- All emission reductions are permanent.
- If there is the potential for a reversal, in which emission reductions are returned to the atmosphere in the future, insurance must be kept to protect against those scenarios.
- The carbon offset was generated in a way that produced net positive environmental and community impacts.
- Offsets are serialized and tracked so that they cannot be sold twice.
What share of the proceeds from carbon offset sales goes to Environmental Defense?
None. Environmental Defense does not receive any proceeds from the sale of carbon offsets. All carbon offset sales are conducted strictly between purchaser and the offset retailer on the offset retailer’s own web site. Environmental Defense doesn't handle any part of the financial transaction.
What You Can Do
Small changes to your daily routine can add up to big differences in helping to stop global warming.