As a nation, we all must seek new ways to limit our carbon footprint, and fast. The UK is facing one of the biggest challenges it ever as — how to tackle the issue of climate change. Populations are growing and so are economies but, the effects of these considerable growths are felt significantly by the environment as energy needs drastically increase.
Rescaling our habits and needs in life to be more sustainable and, ultimately, greener is something many of us have already achieved. Whether that’s choosing to recycle, reducing the amount of plastic we use, using off grid gas, or even turning down the thermostat in our home by one degree – there’s a growing number of people dedicated to lowering their environmental impact.
That said, we aren’t there yet, and significantly more action is required. Last year the UK government announced plans to achieve ‘Net Zero’ status by the year 2050[1], a target which aims to stop the UK from contributing to the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. However, public awareness on how this will be achieved is still lacking. In fact, a recent report from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau found that just 38 percent of us are aware we’ll need to change the way our home is heated if we’re to achieve this goal.[2]
Ultimately, we won’t be able to avoid creating a carbon footprint until we are fully carbon neutral. From heating our homes and offices, to driving our cars or even making a cup of tea, it’s inevitable that we can’t always live up to the green standards we’d like to. However, there is a solution, for those trying to avoid the rather unavoidable emissions – Carbon Offsetting. Here, we look through the benefits and how it can help us lead a greener life.
Carbon Offsetting – What Is It?
In effect, Carbon Offsetting is a solution to the day to day emissions that we simply can’t prevent from producing. A process in which people compensate their emissions by funding projects that provide sustainable development in communities around the world. These projects offer an equivalent reduction in emissions to those you create; either counteracting or absorbing carbon dioxide and bringing balance to the environment.
A number of brands around the world, including the likes ofEasyJet, Shell and Gucci, all now use Carbon Offsetting to help improve the environmental impact of their businesses.
Why is Carbon Offsetting important?
This is a particularly important strategy because it allows people to make a positive contribution to the environment when their emissions can’t be avoided. Furthermore, the increased funding these causes receive can change lives, bringing economic, social and health improvements to whole communities. With people at the heart of Carbon Offsetting, as well as ecosystems, it allows us to begin future proofing for a cleaner, greener world.
Why Do It?
All of us need to play a role in limiting our carbon emissions and for those that own a house, this is their chance. For the environmentally conscious and those looking to reduce their impact on the climate, Carbon Offsetting gives them the tools to make a difference. Whilst it shouldn’t be used as a stand-alone approach and is best used as part of a wider carbon reduction strategy, it will help people reduce their impact on the environment.
What About the Carbon Emissions I Can’t Control?
The Kariba REDD+ Forest Protection project in Zimbabwe, Africa, is one such example of a beneficiary of Carbon Offsetting. Since its launch in 2011, it’s avoided more than 18 million tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere and has prevented deforestation in an area of nearly 750,000 hectares. From West African homes being supplied with eco-friendly cooking equipment, to the production of hydroelectric power in rural China, the options are extensive.
No one is proposing that Carbon Offsetting is the only option available but, it plays a role in a much more overarching solution. Combining it with the small steps we are already taking individually, and we are moving in a far more successful manner. We can all play a part, whether that be through the support of development projects our quantifiable greenhouse gas reductions.