carbon offsetting
Pollution guilt payments
Carbon offsetting is the practice of compensating for one's carbon emissions by funding projects that reduce greenhouse gases elsewhere—planting trees, investing in renewable energy, or capturing methane.
The idea is that a ton of carbon reduced anywhere benefits the global atmosphere equally.
Critics question whether offsets genuinely reduce emissions or simply let polluters buy their way out of changing behavior: The airline offers carbon offsetting at checkout, but I'm skeptical it makes a difference.
Substances released into air
- greenhouse gasesEmissions that trap heat
- CO2Carbon dioxide formula
- cap-and-tradeMarket-based pollution control
- sequestrationAct of setting apart
footprint · mitigation · global warming · verification · compliance · Kyoto Protocol · Paris Agreement · net-zero
Replanting depleted woodlands
- afforestationIntroducing woods to treeless land
- forest preservationProtecting extensive tree ecosystems
- wildlife habitatsWhere wild species dwell
- protected areasZones with legal conservation status
land trusts · conservancy · ecosystems · biodiversity · national parks · nature reserves · old-growth forests · rainforest preservation
Self-replenishing natural power
- wind farmsGrouped turbines generating electricity
- biogasFuel from anaerobic decomposition
- energy efficiencyMinimizing wasted power
- sustainable developmentMeeting needs without exhausting resources
False sustainability claims
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- climate justiceFairness in environmental impacts
- corporate responsibilityCompany's ethical and social obligations
- double countingCounting items more than once
transparency · indigenous rights · community benefits · moral hazard · due diligence
emissions
Substances released into air
- greenhouse gasesEmissions that trap heat
- CO2Carbon dioxide formula
- cap-and-tradeMarket-based pollution control
sequestration · footprint · mitigation · global warming · verification · compliance · Kyoto Protocol · Paris Agreement · net-zero · permanence
reforestation
Replanting depleted woodlands
- afforestationIntroducing woods to treeless land
- forest preservationProtecting extensive tree ecosystems
- wildlife habitatsWhere wild species dwell
protected areas · land trusts · conservancy · ecosystems · biodiversity · national parks · nature reserves · old-growth forests · rainforest preservation
renewable energy
Self-replenishing natural power
- wind farmsGrouped turbines generating electricity
- biogasFuel from anaerobic decomposition
- energy efficiencyMinimizing wasted power
sustainable development · green certification · corporate sustainability · ESG
greenwashing
False sustainability claims
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- climate justiceFairness in environmental impacts
- corporate responsibilityCompany's ethical and social obligations
double counting · transparency · indigenous rights · community benefits · moral hazard · due diligence
- environmentalismecology, conservationism, recycling bins, campaigner, environmentalism
- eco actionsrecycling, composting, tree planting, water conservation, energy saving
- green practicesrecycling, recycled paper, reusable bags, solar panels, solar power
- eco servicesrecycling, composting, solar installation, energy audits, waste management
- ecotourismecotourism, ecotour, ecotours, nature reserve, Galapagos Islands
- green computingenergy efficiency, power management, e-waste, data centers, virtualization
carbon offsettingdecarbonization
Eliminating fossil fuel emissions
energy efficiency · electrification · insetting · clean energy transition · behavioral change
carbon offsettingcarbon emission
Discharged atmospheric pollutant
deforestation · industrial pollution · environmental degradation
carbon, offset, carbonated, offsetting, offsets, carbonation, carbonize, carbon dioxide, carbonic