Carbon Offsets Aren’t Working and Need Reforms

Carbon offsets allow businesses and wealthy individuals to buy credits to compensate for failing to meet their carbon emission targets. Find out why the system isn’t helping the planet, and the reforms needed to make this emerging marketplace effective.

Probably the best thing I’ve ever done to reduce my own carbon footprint was to stop commuting. I was in a position to shift into semi-retirement and start writing for a living in my own home instead of commuting into the city for a 9-to-5 office job.

I’ve also bought a hybrid car which, although it still has to burn some gasoline, uses less overall energy. It also doesn’t simply replace one fossil fuel with the other fossil fuels that power the electrical grid around here.

Most of us have some options available to directly lower our carbon emissions. When individuals and business can’t find enough of these options to meet their emission goals, they sometimes resort to buying “carbon offsets.”

Businesses Buy Credits to Offset Their Carbon Emissions