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I often get asked “what are the best carbon offsets?”
My response?
I’d rank them from 1 (best) to 4 (worst).
1. None. Reduce your emissions instead. There is absolutely no substitute for this. Stop thinking “net zero” and focus on “zero” — or as close as you can get.
My response?
I’d rank them from 1 (best) to 4 (worst).
1. None. Reduce your emissions instead. There is absolutely no substitute for this. Stop thinking “net zero” and focus on “zero” — or as close as you can get.
2. Offsets that reduce other emissions today. And offsets that can be verified, are additional (not happening already), and permanent.
Eliminating refrigerant emissions from landfills, for example. Or eliminating methane leaks. Or big energy efficiency investments.
Eliminating refrigerant emissions from landfills, for example. Or eliminating methane leaks. Or big energy efficiency investments.
3. Offsets that protect / enhance natural sinks, in soils & trees, and don’t compete with food supplies or biodiversity.
But be careful — they may not be permanent, verifiable. Also: while waiting for nature to offset emissions, your emissions still cause decades of warming.
But be careful — they may not be permanent, verifiable. Also: while waiting for nature to offset emissions, your emissions still cause decades of warming.
4. Those that depends on carbon removal technologies that don’t exist at any meaningful scale yet.
In a couple of decades, direct carbon capture may be feasible and needed to clean up our historic messes, but focus on 1-3 in the meantime. This is way too risky as a primary tool.
In a couple of decades, direct carbon capture may be feasible and needed to clean up our historic messes, but focus on 1-3 in the meantime. This is way too risky as a primary tool.
Again, the best offset is no offset at all. Instead: Reduce emissions.
Offsets should be used sparingly, only where emissions cannot be reduced, and only with extreme caution.
Offsets that reduce other emissions today are best. Those that rely on future sinks are much riskier.
Offsets should be used sparingly, only where emissions cannot be reduced, and only with extreme caution.
Offsets that reduce other emissions today are best. Those that rely on future sinks are much riskier.
Also, besides the technical issues with offsets, there are many other challenges.
In particular, are these offsets improving longstanding challenges of climate equity and justice, or making them worse?
In particular, are these offsets improving longstanding challenges of climate equity and justice, or making them worse?
