Using Carbon Offsets to Neutralize Your Emissions

Climate change is a serious problem, caused primarily by the carbon dioxide released from burning fossil fuels like oil, coal, and gas. But there are things we can do about it - like choosing to go carbon neutral.

Going carbon neutral is an easy way to take responsibility for the greenhouse gas emissions we create every time we drive our cars, take a plane, or turn on our computers. It's based on the principle that, since climate change is a global problem, an emission reduction made elsewhere has the same positive effect as one made locally.

Here's how it works: if you add polluting emissions to the atmosphere, you can effectively subtract them by purchasing 'carbon offsets'. Carbon offsets are simply credits for emission reductions achieved by projects such as wind farms, solar installations, or energy efficiency retrofits. You can purchase these credits and apply them to your own emissions to reduce your net climate impact.


Why Go Carbon Neutral?

To solve the problem of climate change, we all need to take account of our personal carbon emissions and make continued efforts to reduce them ourselves. But it is impossible to reduce our carbon emissions to zero, no matter how hard we try. Going carbon neutral by purchasing carbon offsets is a practical and affordable way to do something about those remaining emissions.

In addition, by voluntarily calculating and assigning a cost to your carbon emissions, you can begin to prepare for the inevitability of an economy in which carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are regulated and taxed. Whether you are a business or an individual, this is an important step towards managing your carbon emissions efficiently and identifying potential for reductions and savings.

Purchasing high quality carbon offsets from projects such as wind farms also helps support the transition to a sustainable energy economy by providing an additional source of revenue to developers of renewable energy. 

While voluntary offset programs should not be seen as a substitute for comprehensive government regulations to reduce greenhouse gases (e.g. through implementation of the Kyoto Protocol), they are a step in the right direction, and an opportunity to demonstrate leadership on climate change.

Carbon offsets also offer flexibility, as you can choose to offset just one - or all - of your major emission sources. For example, you can purchase carbon offsets to mitigate the emissions from your air travel, automobile use, or home heating. If you wish to offset the emissions from electricity, you can use either carbon offsets or a special product known as a "Renewable Energy Certificate" (REC), which is like purchasing renewable energy.

In the resources section below, you can find links to calculators and vendors of carbon offsets and RECs.


Who's Doing It?

Many people and organizations are going carbon neutral (sometimes referred to as 'climate neutral'). Here are just a few examples:

• Major sporting events such as the World Cup Soccer are going carbon neutral, as are many athletes.
• Airlines and travel agents are starting to offer customers the option to offset their flights, and some airlines are offsetting all of their flights. Many hotels are also providing carbon neutral accommodations.
• Movie studios have offset the emissions from the production of feature films and documentaries, and media companies such as BSkyB, MTV, and News Corp are offsetting the emissions associated with their broadcasts
• Major conferences (e.g. United Nations World Climate Research Programme) and conventions have offset their emissions
• Organizations as diverse as as Wells Fargo, Whole Foods, the EPA and the city of Vail, CO have purchased large quantities of renewable energy certificates to offset their electricity use
• Large companies like HSBC, Swiss Re, Google, Nike, Dell, and Vancity have committed to making their entire operations carbon neutral
• Many businesses are now offering carbon neutral products or services, such as carpeting, clothing, flower deliveries, coffee, and taxi rides
• Some utilities are offsetting their emissions and allowing their customers to purchase carbon neutral energy
• Governments (such as the UK) are pursuing carbon neutrality
  
• The World Bank has committed to being carbon neutral
• Schools and churches are voluntarily offsetting their emissions
• Rock bands like the Rolling Stones, Coldplay, and Dave Matthews Band have offset the emissions associated with their concerts and albums
• Many people are now offsetting their weddings (including air travel by guests)

The list continues to grow – best-selling books, grocery store chains, cities, and even countries are becoming carbon neutral. Many celebrities are also choosing to go carbon neutral in their personal lives to help raise awareness about climate change.


The David Suzuki Foundation's Program

As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, and to demonstrate that taking responsibility for one’s greenhouse gas emissions is straightforward and inexpensive, the David Suzuki Foundation has implemented a carbon neutral program in its offices. The program is based on a user-friendly guide published by the World Resources Institute that makes it easy to calculate an office’s greenhouse gas emissions. Due to the many problems with tree planting projects, the David Suzuki Foundation only purchases offsets from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that meet The Gold Standard.

You can do it too!

It's easy to go carbon neutral - all it takes is a few simple steps.

After you've begun to offset your own emissions, encourage friends and family to do the same. You can even purchase carbon offsets as gifts for other people. Also, choose to support businesses that are either carbon neutral, or offer carbon neutral products or services. If the businesses you are dealing with aren't yet carbon neutral, ask them to consider it. Finally, write a letter to your political leaders and let them know you've taken responsibility for your greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage them to enact legislation making it easy for everyone to do so.

While reducing energy use should always be the first priority, purchasing carbon offsets is one way to encourage the transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy, and show your support for action on climate change.

Resources

Purchasing Carbon Offsets: A Guide for Canadian Consumers, Businesses and Organizations

Doing Business in a New Climate: A Guide to Measuring, Reducing, and Offsetting Emissions

How Individuals and Familes Can Go Carbon Neutral in Five Easy Steps

Resources for businesses interested in measuring, reducing, and/or offsetting their emissions

How to Make Your Conference or other Event Carbon Neutral

How to Have a Low-Carbon Wedding


Background info on carbon neutrality

The Daily Grist - On Reducing Emissions, One Person At a Time

The Daily Grist - A Guide to Offsetting Your Carbon Emissions

BBC - How Do You Live a Carbon Neutral Lifestyle?

Wikipedia - Carbon Neutral

Nature Challenge Newsletter on Carbon Neutrality

David Suzuki Foundation Brochure: Stop Global Warming, Go Carbon Neutral! 

David Suzuki Foundation Fact Sheet on Carbon Neutrality

What is a Carbon Offset?

David Suzuki Foundation backgrounder: Air Travel and Climate Change


Carbon offset calculators – Air travel **
(Note: these calculators can be used without making a purchase)

Planetair

TerraPass

Ben & Jerry's

Calculate the distance between cities by air

Webflyer - calculate the distance between airports


Carbon offset calculators (and vendors) - Vehicles**
(Note: these calculators can be used without making a purchase)

Planetair

CarbonZero (includes trains & buses)

cleanairpass

cool drive pass

CoolDriver

TerraPass

Drive Neutral

Certified Clean Car

DrivingGreen

Climate Care

zerofootprint

Climat Mundi (includes motorcycles)

Carbon offset calulators - Home Electricity, Gas, & Heating Oil * *
(Note: these calculators can be used without making a purchase)

Planetair

Bonneville Environmental Foundation (USA)

Climate Care

Carbon Neutral Company

Climat Mundi

Leonardo Academy

Carbon offset calculators - Misc. **
(Note: these calculators can be used without making a purchase)

Sustainable Travel International (hotels)

CO2Balance.com (ferries)

Sustainable Travel International (cargo shipped by air)

RAC Rail Calculator (freight shipped by rail)

Environmental Defense Paper Emissions (paper)

SafeClimate Carbon Footprint Calculator

UK Govt. - Act on CO2 Calculator

EPA Personal Greenhouse Gas Calculator

EPA List of Emission Calculators

EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator

The National Energy Foundation CO2 Calculator

UBC's Ecological Footprint Calculator

Environmental Defense - Calculate Your Personal Impact

The Nature Conservancy

Comparisons of offset vendors

Evaluations and Recommendations of Voluntary Offset Companies - Tufts University

Carbon offset vendors that sell Gold Standard offsets**

Planetair

Sustainable Travel International

Climate Friendly

Atmosfair

Pure


Carbon offset vendors - General**

Offsetters

CarbonZero

Climate Care

GreenLife

The Carbon Neutral Company

The Climate Trust

Solar Electric Light Fund

Kyoto Twist

Native Energy

Greenfiniti Consulting Canada

Better World Club

TerraPass

CarbonCounter

Climat Mundi

Vancouver Renewable Energy Cooperative

targetneutral

LivClean

Carbon Passport

co2balance.com

Renewable energy certificate (REC) vendors **

Wind Power by Pembina

Bullfrog Power

Canadian Hydro

Green Tags Ontario

Wind Powered Computer Network Hosting

Greenmax

Bonneville Environmental Foundation

REC Programs in USA

REC Marketers and Related Entities in USA

Tips for reducing your energy use

The 20/20 Planner: A Practical Guide to Reduce Energy Use by 20% at home and on the road

US DOE Comparison of Vehicle Mileage & Tips for Reducing Vehicle Emissions

An Inconvenient Truth - Take Action

Greenpeace Canada - Energy Saving Tips

Sierra Club - Energy Saving Tips

Lick Global Warming

Cool Companies


** While listing these companies, the David Suzuki Foundation makes no representation regarding the products, services or business practices of the named companies.