Are there any worthwhile carbon credit / offset programs?
February 1, 2023 7:58 AM Subscribe
Apparently most carbon offset programs are ineffective or possibly even harmful. Are there any that have stood up to rigorous independent analysis?
I have no children, work remotely, and pay a substantial premium for electricity from a community solar program. But occasionally I have to fly, for which I buy carbon offsets. I'd like to ensure that those offsets are actually effective.
I have no children, work remotely, and pay a substantial premium for electricity from a community solar program. But occasionally I have to fly, for which I buy carbon offsets. I'd like to ensure that those offsets are actually effective.
First off, thank you for caring about this, and for doing everything you can do to help.
That said, the concept of "carbon offset" is fundamentally flawed. A carbon offset implies that it's okay to emit additional carbon, as long as you "offset it" by paying for some trees to be planted or something. But that's not the world we live in. There is no room to emit additional carbon, even if you plant the trees. We need to plant those trees and take those other offset steps without emitting the additional carbon. And even if we did that, we still wouldn't be doing enough.
So by all means, donate to organizations that plant trees, or produce green electricity, or take other steps. The Amends project linked above might have some good potential recipients. But don't think of it as offsetting your personal carbon emissions, and certainly don't think of it as making it okay to emit additional carbon. Continue to reduce everywhere you can.
(To be clear, I don't think you're falling for the offset fallacy. But I think it's important to just get offsets out of our vocabulary altogether, because there are many people less thoughtful than you who think they can continue to live as they've always lived as long as they add $1.50/day to their SUV rental agreement.)
posted by Winnie the Proust at 8:28 AM on February 1, 2023 [4 favorites]
That said, the concept of "carbon offset" is fundamentally flawed. A carbon offset implies that it's okay to emit additional carbon, as long as you "offset it" by paying for some trees to be planted or something. But that's not the world we live in. There is no room to emit additional carbon, even if you plant the trees. We need to plant those trees and take those other offset steps without emitting the additional carbon. And even if we did that, we still wouldn't be doing enough.
So by all means, donate to organizations that plant trees, or produce green electricity, or take other steps. The Amends project linked above might have some good potential recipients. But don't think of it as offsetting your personal carbon emissions, and certainly don't think of it as making it okay to emit additional carbon. Continue to reduce everywhere you can.
(To be clear, I don't think you're falling for the offset fallacy. But I think it's important to just get offsets out of our vocabulary altogether, because there are many people less thoughtful than you who think they can continue to live as they've always lived as long as they add $1.50/day to their SUV rental agreement.)
posted by Winnie the Proust at 8:28 AM on February 1, 2023 [4 favorites]
I have used Native Energy for this, and liked them for their focus on cleaning up electrical production. One current project. Excited to check out the Amends list.
I think a good rule of thumb is avoid any tree planting projects or projects that purport to conserve forests.
Lastly I think of carbon offsets (ugh yes that term implies so much) as a personal reminder that we all can do better and that our choices, however miniscule in impact compared to effing Chevron's choices, can be more aligned with our values and the needs of humanity and the planet.
posted by spamandkimchi at 9:25 AM on February 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
I think a good rule of thumb is avoid any tree planting projects or projects that purport to conserve forests.
Lastly I think of carbon offsets (ugh yes that term implies so much) as a personal reminder that we all can do better and that our choices, however miniscule in impact compared to effing Chevron's choices, can be more aligned with our values and the needs of humanity and the planet.
posted by spamandkimchi at 9:25 AM on February 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
Climeworks is a direct air capture outfit in Iceland turning atmospheric carbon into underground stone.
posted by andythebean at 9:40 AM on February 1, 2023
posted by andythebean at 9:40 AM on February 1, 2023
Can you "offset" it yourself? If you don't bike/walk/etc. for 100% of your transportation, you can commit to bike/walk/etc-ing more in the amount of the distance you'll be traveling by airplane. You can even crowdsource it and ask people to help you reach your goal.
posted by aniola at 2:15 PM on February 1, 2023
posted by aniola at 2:15 PM on February 1, 2023
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by phooky at 8:14 AM on February 1, 2023 [3 favorites]