My conversations lately have been turning more and more to sustainability, and more often than not lead to the "So exactly what can we do?" question. This eventually brings us to some discussion of carbon offsets, the topic of this post, and one of the more head-scratching issues on the list. Indeed, much has been written about these potentially beneficial little commodities--but I sometimes wonder how much has actually been communicated?
So I thought I'd take a stab at it--with both a top level view and some jumping off points in case you want to dig deeper. It begins with the acceptance that we all emit carbon dioxide, whether we want to or not, and no matter how hard we work at being green. Remember...
- We emit a full ton of CO2 when we drive about 6,000 miles in our hybrid, or a mere 1,350 miles in our large SUV.
- We emit roughly same amount when we fly 2,000 miles in a plane
- The average American's direct emissions from household energy and transportation amounts to about 10 tons per person.
And after we've put the solar panels on the roof, installed the energy efficient appliances, and tried to conserve our way to salvation, we still have to account for the emissions generated to produce the food we eat and the clothes we wear. There is simply no way to avoid being guilty.
There is, however, a way to take responsibility.
Here's where offsets come in. Offsets allow us to contribute to a reduction of emissions, by helping fund new and ongoing energy efficiency, renewable energy generation (typically from solar, methane, or wind sources), or carbon sequestration projects. (The latter refers to the removal and storage of CO2 from the atmosphere...think trees). More specifically, for every ton of carbon dioxide you inevitably still create, you can eliminate some or all of it through a net reduction you support elsewhere. In an ideal sense, if you were to thus offset all the emissions that you couldn't eliminate through lifestyle changes, you would be able to claim that you had attained the enviable state of zero carbon footprint, or carbon neutrality.
Offsetting CO2 works for individuals (the retail scale), corporations, and institutions. It allows for the offsetting of emissions from manfacturing, transportation, travel, fossil fuel based energy generation, travel, and simple household running. It is a very hot topic in the sustainability arena and, as I hope you will see, a necessity in turning our greenhouse gas imbalance around.
But it is not a silver bullet.
I think green business guru, Joel Makower, sums it up memorably when he writes "...buying offsets for an energy-wasteful home or business and calling it environmentally responsible is akin to buying a Diet Coke to go with your double bacon cheeseburger -- and calling it a weight-loss program. Efficiency (and calorie reduction!) comes first." You said it. Offsets do not preclude conservation and minimization of your emissions per se. Nor do they come first.
In efforts to be smart about emissions within your sphere of control (and this applies equally to businesses as well as individuals), you begin with an assessment of the amount of CO2 you generate--known as your carbon footprint--and address the waste and inefficiencies you can directly. Then comes the time to look at those remaining, and for now unavoidable tons of carbon you emit, and look for offset opportunities.
And you won't have to look far. There are dozens of companies and non-profit organizations who provide easy ways to calculate your footprint, and will offer offsets for any budget, and across a range of projects (see links below). For less than $100, the average American can offset their annual personal footprint--as reported in A Consumer's Guide to Retail Carbon Offset Providers, issued in late 2006 by the nonprofit Clean Air-Cool Planet.There are numerous organizations and web sites that will take you step by step through the process. Here, for example, is one helpful overview provided by the David Suzuki Foundation.
Offsets do raise issues.
Somewhere along the line, your faith will be shaken. Perhaps it will happen when you hear that "Carbon offsets are just like paying for your right to pollute." Or, "You're just paying off your guilt." And you will read that offsets are "counterproductive" and distract from the essential reductions we need to see in the use of fossil fuels. But if you venture into offsets after taking a good, hard look at the actions you can take to reduce your footprint in the first place--eliminate unneccesary trips, switch your lights, buy a hybrid, etc.--you'll be doing a good thing. As for the guilt feelings, I believe that your new and more sustainable practices will speak for themselves.
The experts, too, point out a number of concerns about offsets, which do suggest that we are still in a 'buyer beware' mode. After all, at this point in time, offsets are voluntary, and are not formally regulated, certified, or monitored. This article, from the January 10th Christian Science Monitor gives a nice overview.
And then there is the issue of additionality, namely, did your offset contribution fund emission reductions beyond those that were already in place (in a business-as-usual sense)? This, in fact, was one of the questions that prompted the comprehensive, independent study and the report mentioned above.
Further concerns are evident in debates about which categories of offsets are most effective, notably in the finding that carbon sequestration through reforestation may have significant downsides--i.e., the release of large amounts of carbon from the soil during planting.
The picture keeps changing...stay tuned.
Clearly, carbon offsets are not a panacea. But the bottom line message is clear: offsets today represent one of the most viable mechanisms for taking responsibility--personal as well as corporate--for one's contribution to global warming. They are increasingly easy to access, relatively economical, and very useful in helping the shift away from fossil fuel consumption. Just remember--don't offset what you can conserve or otherwise reduce. Do them both, and your eConsciousness meter will go up a notch or two. Guaranteed.
Even as I'm writing this, the world of offsets is changing. Here's a sampling of what's to come...
Joel Makower reports in climatebiz.com that U.K. retail giant Marks & Spencer announced a plan that will lead to the company becoming carbon neutral by 2012. That DHL is planning to become the first company to offer carbon-neutral delivery. And that Dell Computer launched a carbon initiative that plants trees to allow customers to offset the carbon impact of using their computers.
Carbon offset provider TerraPass just announced a partnership with Sam's Club and manufacturer Karcher to bundle offsets with the company's pressure washer product--a first for TerraPass.
And another offset provider, ClimateSure, has introduced the first insurance product that comes with carbon offsets built in--at no higher cost to consumers than traditional plans.
Interesting and helpful links...
Carbon footprint calculators--on line and very quick and simple to use, for household as well as travel calculations. Also great for giving the gift of offsets to you friends:
Sustainable Travel International
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Personal Greenhouse Gas Calculator
Offset providers--a sampling to get you started. All provide additional help and background information:
Questions?
All of a sudden I feel like I'm going out on a limb...but here goes. I suspect some of you may have questions. And although I'm no climate expert, I'll do my best to answer them or direct you to places where you can find clarity. So step up, and log yours by clicking on 'Comments' below. It's quick. It's easy. And it's anonymous, if you insist.
Larry,
This was really great to read. One aspect to carbon offsetting that I believe to be so important is that it opens up the concept of our carbon use having a price. A carbon market will become increasingly important, and by creating a market we begin to understand our personal cost - and the cost created by others, individually, collectively and by industry. It is then easy to understand the importance of annual carbon reduction targets - measurable in a language that everyone grasps - and fights for.
Posted by: The Lazy Environmentalist | February 02, 2007 at 01:15 PM
Lazy:
In some circles I know it's not cool (no pun intended, sorry) to go the offset route. And we do have to guard against the notion that people see it as the easy course, and then do nothing further. My gut tells me that this is not actually the case, at least now when the presumably more green oriented are more the likely early offsetters. But I'd like to see some research on this!
LG
Posted by: LG | February 02, 2007 at 05:27 PM
Larry- Thanks for the comprehensive post on carbon offsetting. I just posted the following at my blog and thought that you might have an interest:
"I have spent almost 14 years thinking about sustainable development. I am convinced that the only way that we will begin to live more sustainably is to create a system of living that is attractive when compared with the existing consumption-oriented system.
The carbon offset controversy presents an opportunity to introduce a new and attractive way of living. A carbon offset club where your carbon offset credits create an account that you can access in the future. Think of it as a "bank" that only utilizes assets to build and operate sustainable living places and spaces. A learning-oriented system. Gourmet food. Much of it grown on site. Members can learn the art of gardening, cooking, and craftsmanship. On-site operating partners that are committed to maintaining a small footprint. A world-class spa -- and a whole new way of living.
A whole new way of thinking about carbon offsets. A whole new way of thinking about retirement. Let's call it full time engagement.
Access to the club/spa is through a reservation system that gives priority to members based on the amount and timing of their club deposits.
It's not enough to plant trees. We can systemically alter the way we live."
By the way, I can recommend orienteering. It is a good way to get some exercise for both the body and the mind.
Posted by: Matt Holbert | February 17, 2007 at 12:53 PM
Matt:
Thanks for the comments. Your idea for a carbon offset club is intriguing and obviously has a lot of thought behind it. I appreciate the 'reading list' on your blog as well. You might be interested in checking out Jack and Nancy Todd's 'Safe and Sustainable World' if you haven't read it yet. They've put some very convincing small-footprint practices into play in Burlington, Vermont. Very interesting stuff.
Larry
Posted by: LG | February 18, 2007 at 09:27 PM
I thought you might be interested in this new report that is available online
The Carbon Neutral Myth – Offset Indulgences for your Climate Sins is available online at:
www.tni.org
"Carbon offsets are the modern day indulgences, sold to an increasingly carbon conscious public to absolve their climate sins. Scratch the surface, however, and a disturbing picture emerges, where creative accountancy and elaborate shell games cover up the impossibility of verifying genuine climate change benefits, and where communities in the South often have little choice as offset projects are inflicted on them.
This report argues that offsets place disproportionate emphasis on individual lifestyles and carbon footprints, distracting attention from the wider, systemic changes and collective political action that needs to be taken to tackle climate change. Promoting more effective and empowering approaches involves moving away from the marketing gimmicks, celebrity endorsements, technological quick fixes, and the North/South exploitation that the carbon offsets industry embodies."
Posted by: kevin smith | February 23, 2007 at 11:07 AM
Larry- Thanks for referring me to the book by John and Nancy Todd. (Just by accident, I realized this afternoon that you had responded to my comment back in February.) As it happens, their son was in Spokane for a presentation a year or two ago and talked about the Burlington project. Interesting stuff. I'll try to get a copy of the book. Looking the book up on Amazon, I came across information on advertising at Amazon that may help me with marketing my idea. :)
Matt
Posted by: Matt Holbert | June 07, 2007 at 07:17 PM
I'm about halfway through The Carbon Neutral Myth and I highly suggest everyone give it a good read or two. Looking at exactly what's happening when the plans of the offset companies go into play and the destruction and disturbing side effects will make you think twice about sending money to a company to offset away anything. They use poor areas and force things onto them in order to offset your carbon. Which very often results in changing for the worse a community and its lifestyle, which naturally produces much less carbon than we do.
Posted by: Amy | December 15, 2007 at 08:19 PM