Subscription services have become a regular part of our lives. And so have climate change concerns. So, it is no surprise that subscriptions for carbon offset services are now available from several companies, including Offset. For example, one can offset 1,600 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO₂) per month, equivalent to taking 2 cars off the road.
Offsets’ sales pitch? Make a big impact for less than the cost of lunch.
A carbon offset is a reduction in CO₂ that offsets an equal amount that is released. While the CO₂ is in the atmosphere, it acts as a blanket to warm the earth.
Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by trees or plants, accumulates, and is stored in soil, oceans, and rocks. These places are called carbon sinks because they absorb more CO₂ from the atmosphere than they release, thereby reducing the concentration in the atmosphere.
Unfortunately, it can take decades to centuries for CO₂ to be fully absorbed from the atmosphere by the sinks. And changing conditions may mean that sinks become sources, as when a frozen peat bog melts.
Back to the offsets. Companies, and individuals, can buy offsets which are tradeable credits that each represent a metric ton of carbon. The credits fund projects that store or reduce carbon, such as preserving forests and grasslands or investing in renewable energy.
Carbon credits are registered, and carbon markets exist in the European Union and California. And, organizations such as the Gold Standard set best practices for offset projects.
Companies begin by measuring the emissions from their operations and the electricity they buy from the grid. These are known as Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, and there are standards for measuring these. Scope 3 emissions come from everything else that makes a business run, including the supply chain.
Many leading companies know their Scope 1 and 2 emissions and are measuring their Scope 3 emissions. However, this is a complex process, and often the majority of a company’s emissions are Scope 3 emissions.
Measuring Scope 1-3 emissions helps companies identify and focus on emission reductions. And when reductions are not immediately possible, they can buy carbon credits to offset their usage.
Individuals can also use a calculator to measure their carbon footprint.
