5 Questions to Ask Before Buying Carbon Offsets

Renewable Energy SmartPod

Carbon emissions offsets can be a touchy subject. Some people think offsets are just a price businesses can pay to keep generating emissions. But the truth is, there are many industries where the technology needed to decarbonize doesn’t even exist yet.
So if you're a business leader who wants to offset the emissions from your operations, how exactly do you go about doing that? Or if you are an individual who wants to buy offsets for the emissions you create in your daily life, would you know how to do it? And perhaps most importantly, with accusations of greenwashing flying around everywhere, how does one offset emissions in a transparent and responsible way?
Blake Lawrence from Cool Effect joins today's show to answer those questions and more. The team at Cool Effect works to use science expertise and transparency to give people the confidence to purchase carbon offsets that will deliver positive results for the world around us.
For those of you who are new to carbon markets, Blake and I are going to walk through a list of 5 questions every person should ask before buying carbon offsets. You’ll even learn how much it would cost you to offset your OWN emissions … or give offsets to others as a gift!
More resources

Cool Effect Model
Seller's Pledge
Offsetting Travel
Business Offset Calculator

EDF Renewables
Energy innovation for the next generation
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Sign up for the Renewable Energy SmartBrief
Follow the show on Twitter @RenewablesPod

Chapters

1. 5 Questions to Ask Before Buying Carbon Offsets (00:00:00)

2. The origins of Cool Effect (00:02:27)

3. Question 1: Are the offsets verified by one of the leading international carbon credit standards to ensure that they are both 100% additional and permanent? (00:03:26)

4. How offsets manage the threat posed by natural disasters and other threats (00:05:11)

5. Question 2: Does the offset have a stable management team that cultivate buy-in from local communities? (00:06:53)

6. Question 3: Does the offset have co-benefits such as providing clean water or achieving food security? (00:09:06)

7. Unusual kinds of carbon offsets (00:12:56)

8. Question 4: Are the offset's finances and goals able to be maintained for a long duration? (00:13:58)

9. Typical admin costs (00:15:19)

10. Question 5: Are the offset's finances and goals able to be maintained for a long duration? (00:16:04)

11. Cool Effect's Seller's Pledge (00:16:59)

12. Common questions from organizations seeking carbon offsets (00:18:30)

13. Market trends driving carbon offsets (00:19:37)

14. Giving the gift of carbon offsets (00:20:58)

15. Blake's bold predictions (00:21:58)