EPIC ’08 – Living a carbon-neutral life: Offsetters.ca

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This post is also cross-posted with the FrogBlog
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In this globalized world, I would like to know who doesn’t have to fly. Funny how things go, in our collective efforts to be more sustainable, we perhaps have ended up harming the environment even more by racking up air-miles traveling the world from Paris to Tokyo to Geneva to Nairobi. In the end, air travel ends up contributing more carbon to the atmosphere than what we would have emitted had we tele-commuted our way into these international environmental meetings.

However, what can we do if we ABSOLUTELY have to drive or fly? Enter carbon offsets. With carbon offsets, you’re not “buying your way into sustainability heaven“. You are trying to offset (hence the term carbon offsets!) whatever carbon you are unavoidably emitting instead of simply flying recklessly.

Offsetters is a Vancouver-based non-for-profit organization founded by Dr. Hadi Dowlatabadi and Dr. James Tansey. How can we make sure that carbon offsets are actually working? In their website, they answer your questions (the emphases are mine)

Offsetters’ carbon offsets are investments in projects that prevent greenhouse gases from being emitted into the atmosphere. All of our projects are verified by qualified third parties as being:
1. Real. Verifiers confirm that our projects take place as promised.
2. “Additional.” Offsetters investments lead to real reductions in total greenhouse gas emissions by enabling projects that would otherwise not take place.
3. Permanent. We avoid reforestation and other projects that only temporarily store carbon.
4. Socially beneficial. Offsetters projects bring social and local environmental benefits as well as climate gains [From Offsetters' Learn More webpage]

Of course, like any climate-change related measure, carbon offsets have their critics and people who make fun of them. There’s for example the spoof CheatNeutral. However, if you really want to learn more about how you can offset your carbon emissions, check Offsetters’ website. They also have another really cool program, the Cool Air Pass program (to offset your car emissions). Check their website for more information!

If you didn’t get a chance to come to EPIC, simply log on to HappyFrog.ca and look for the FrogBlog or its green businesses directory.

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