Carbon offsetting

What is carbon offsetting?

Carbon offsetting aims to achieve an overall net reduction in greenhouse gases. Rather than reducing carbon emissions individuals and businesses are encouraged to compensate for their emissions to achieve a carbon neutral net result.

Tree planting is the most common form of offsetting, but it can also be achieved through renewable energy and energy conservation.

Carbon offsetting recognises that everyday activities such as heating a home or driving a car produce carbon dioxide emissions, which scientists believe exacerbate climate change. To compensate for these emissions, individuals or businesses must calculate the emissions produced by their actions and take measures to "save" this number of emissions elsewhere, for example by planting trees or foregoing other activities likely to emit carbon. If done properly, scientists hope it will result in a net stabilisation of emissions and climate change.

Recognised schemes exist to help people calculate and offset their emissions. To encourage consumer confidence in this emerging market, the government is developing a code of best practice, to be operational by autumn 2007. Several providers including Certified Emission Reductions and EU Allowances, have already pledged to meet the forthcoming code.

Controversies

Carbon offsetting has proved to be controversial, with many environmental groups questioning its real benefits. Groups such as Friends of the Earth warn the UK cannot "plant its way out" of climate change but instead must reduce its use of fossil fuels. Other groups agree that carbon offsetting does little to counteract the problems causing climate change and does not provide a radical, long-term solution.

In particular the reliance on tree planting to offset carbon dioxide has been questioned. As trees die and decay they release stored carbon back into the environment, meaning benefits of carbon offsetting are lost over the long-term. The government has recognised this and called for a technology based approach.

However, supporters argue tree planting is low cost compared to other mitigation options, making it especially attractive to developing countries, many of which are set to become major polluters.

Statistics

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2006 were 1.2 per cent higher than in 2005.

Carbon emissions are 2.7 per cent above levels in 1997.

The climate change bill would commit the UK to cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by 2050.

(Source: 1 & 2 Friends of the Earth: 2007, 3 Defra: 2007.)

Quotes

"Just as in the 15th and 16th centuries you could sleep with your sister and kill and lie without fear of eternal damnation, today you can live exactly as you please as long as you give your ducats to one of the companies selling indulgences. It is pernicious and destructive nonsense."

George Monbiot, 2006.

"From little acorns mighty oaks do grow is a fitting saying ... I started offsetting my personal flights last year. Some might say this is simply a drop in the (fast warming) ocean but it makes a difference."

John Prescott, 2006.

"Carbon offsetting schemes are being used as a smokescreen to avoid real measures to tackle climate change. We urgently need to cut our emissions, but offsetting schemes encourage individuals, businesses and governments to avoid action and carry on polluting."

Friends of the Earth director, Tony Juniper, 2007.