How to offset carbon emissions in Australia
The best ways to offset a carbon footprint
How do I offset my carbon footprint?
There are many small changes you can make to help reduce your carbon footprint, like using renewable energy sources in your home and office space for maximum energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling, reducing the use of fossil fuels, and streamlining business processes, all these play a vital role in minimising your impact. However, it’s likely that you will not be able to eliminate all emissions. So in combination with reduction activities, you may also look at using carbon offsets as part of the strategy, to do this you will need to:
- understand your greenhouse gas emissions,
- then look at ways to reduce emissions where possible, and
- finally, by funding carbon offset projects
Offset your emissions through verified carbon credits
How do you offset carbon emissions through carbon credits?
When using carbon offsets to balance out unavoidable emissions there are a couple of things to be aware of. Each carbon credit you buy offsets one tonne of CO2 from the atmosphere for example if your business has 50t CO2e and you are able to reduce 40t CO2e through reduction activities, you may then want to balance the remaining 10t CO2e using carbon offsets.
Today Carbon offset programs provide usually have the necessary level of quality assurance for the credits they issue; you should avoid offsets that have not been certified by an established program. Look for credits that are certified by international standards and protocols like:
- Verra (VCS)
- American Carbon Registry (ACR)
- United Nations Framework (UNFCCC)
- Clean Energy Regulator (ACCU)
- Gold Standard
- REDD+
It’s also a good sign if the projects you are looking into support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Simply ask the retailer you are using questions about their key criteria for selection and how these projects do contribute to SDG’s, and stick to project types that are more likely to fulfill basic sustainability requirements.
Offsetting carbon through global emissions reductions projects
How does offsetting carbon work with Carbonhalo’s offset programs?
Carbonhalo has the approach to work with you first to minimise your emissions, therefore reducing the cost of balancing out unavoidable emissions. Where offsetting forms part of a combined reduction strategy Carbonhalo provides verified carbon credits using local and internationally recognised bodies.
How to offset a carbon footprint through Carbonhalo’s carbon offsetting projects:
- Measure your carbon footprint
- Reduce your impact in key areas
- Offset any unavoidable emissions
- Share your progress with others
After following these steps, every month Carbonhalo will automatically offset your unavoidable carbon emissions by funding climate projects across the globe.
Internationally recognised climate action
Verra VCS is a verified carbon standard for certified projects to convert their greenhouse gas emissions reductions into tradable carbon credits.
REDD+ is a program that focuses on reforestation efforts helping restore local communities native habitats and landscape.
Gold Standard is a certification body that ensures applying environmental projects meets specific criteria to claim a contribution to at least one of the global sustainability goals, some of which include poverty reduction, and economic benefits for developing countries.
United Nations Climate Change is a carbon standard that, like Verra enables a carbon offset project to turn their greenhouse gas emissions reductions into verified carbon offset projects.
Eden Reforestation Projects aims to improve environmental benefits and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by planting trees in the developing world and providing meaningful employment to local communities that are affected by extreme poverty.