Nicole PamaniComment

Demystifying Carbon Offsets

Nicole PamaniComment
Demystifying Carbon Offsets

In 2018, 28% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States came from transportation.

That includes cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes. Factor in that over 90% of the fuel used for transportation is petroleum based (gasoline and diesel) and we’ve got a problem.

If we weren’t in the middle of a pandemic, this is about the time that we’d all be surfing Kayak to book our holiday travels. In December 2019 alone, US airlines carried 79 million passengers to domestic and international destinations. And while flights are certainly a major contributor to our carbon footprint, it’s not the only factor to consider. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration states the average person drives around 13,500 miles every year.

Beyond travel, our daily actions (using electricity, eating food, buying chemical products, and heating/cooling our homes) all produce greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide.

Here’s a little breakdown of top contributors:

  • Transportation - 28%

  • Electricity - 28%

  • Industry - 22%

  • Commercial & Residential - 12%

  • Agriculture - 10%

The average annual carbon footprint of a US resident is 17.62 metric tons. That’s the equivalent of burning 19,415 pounds of coal.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by this - take a deep breath. You don’t have to give up travel or sell your car or brave through this winter without turning your heat on. Why? Because you can offset your footprint.

A carbon offset, as explained by Conservation International, is “a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to compensate for emissions made somewhere else. Purchasing a carbon offset enables people and businesses, then, to reduce their carbon footprints.” Basically, you calculate all the harm you did this year and invest some money to counteract that harm and put some good back into the world.

Despite being immersed in the sustainability world, carbon offsets are something that have always been a bit of a mystery to me. Turns out, they are much simpler and much more attainable than I thought. As part of my ongoing mission to do what I can for the people, this week’s episode features Dan Linsky, the Vice President of Voluntary Markets and Leader of the Transaction Team at ClimeCo. Dan and I dive into what carbon offsets are, how individuals and corporations can purchase them, and how to ensure that they are aligned with your values.

I learned so much from this conversation: that for a little more than $200 the average person can offset their entire carbon footprint for the year, that carbon offset programs can be so much more than just planting some trees, and (perhaps most importantly) that carbon offsets really aren’t that scary or confusing. I hope you all enjoy watching this episode and consider purchasing offsets for yourself or a loved one this year.

 
 

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