What you should know about carbon offsetting.
Being “carbon neutral” is not an exact science and we are skeptical of any company who can make this claim. Consider the offset model: You calculate your personal or company’s emissions in tons. On the other side of the equation, the offset provider calculates how many tons of carbon emissions will be avoided by a certain project (for example, a wind turbine that produces a certain amount of clean energy replaces an equal amount of energy produced by a coal-fired power plant) Inevitably, the offset vendor has to make a series of assumptions –how much energy and waste produced by the company or individual, how much energy produces by the wind turbine, etc. Any offset provider we choose must make very conservative and well-founded assumptions. The firm we choose must go to great lengths to fund projects that not only deliver on their promised carbon reductions, but that are “additional,” i.e., they wouldn’t have been built if it weren’t for the offset funding.
What carbon offsetting is not
Carbon offsetting does not absolve you from reducing your emissions, nor does it “undo” the carbon you emit. Pure Bamboo is working everyday to lessens it’s carbon footprint with innovative new methods. Most scientist agree that a two percent reduction per year for the next 40 years is what is required to curb the worst of the impacts of global warming. While this may seem difficult, it is achievable. Every individual and institution needs to decide how they will reduce their emissions. For some this may mean purchasing a more fuel efficient car, or it may mean cancelling some travel or for others it may mean investing in some more efficient appliances. You should consider carbon offsetting in addition to, not as a replacement for your reductions.
Reducing your personal carbon footprint is only part of the picture. It needs to be coupled with far-reaching legislation and effective activism. We truly live in a new word and just as in the 60’s and 70’s the focus was on keeping our streams and waterways clear of garbage and trash – so now we must also evolve our concepts of pollution and what it means to be a responsible earth citizen.
