Does carbon offsetting actually work?
There are huge debates in determining how effective carbon offsetting actually is when it comes to tackling climate change and enhancing sustainability, here are the main conflicting points:
Carbon offsetting does combat climate change:
- In reality people are not going to stop engaging in polluting activities, they still have to go on some flights, heat their homes and get to work. So carbon offsetting is a great way to fund diverse projects in the developing world that make real reductions in greenhouse gases.
- Making people aware of their carbon footprint is beneficial, it encourages consumers to take fewer or shorter flights.
- The aviation and travel industries are increasingly ready to offer offsets to passengers and engage in the climate change debate.
Carbon offsetting doesn't make an impact on climate change:
- Offsetting alone does not cut total pollution or CO2 emissions, they account for a fraction of all emissions produced. The schemes are a distraction from deciding how to radically cut our emissions rather than mitigate them.
- There is no precise way to assess the effectiveness of carbon offsetting schemes. Forestry projects do not offer guaranteed carbon sequestration as trees eventually die and release their carbon as they decay
- Carbon offsetting schemes send the wrong signal by allowing people to think they can continue business as usual. For example, offsetting leads air travellers to forget their flights are still emitting CO2, rather than considering not flying at all.
If your business has a deeper understanding of carbon offsetting you’ll reduce organisational risk exposure, achieve a competitive advantage and be able to operate more effectively in the marketplace.
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