How to choose carbon offsets

Choosing a carbon offset can be confusing. Here are 3 tips on how to choose one that aligns with your company's values.

Our current thinking is informed by The Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting 2020.

1. Choose carbon removal over carbon avoidance

Most offsetting projects available today use carbon avoidance. 

For example, buying a person in India a stove means that they use that instead of an open fire, which is more energy efficient. Therefore they burn less wood, which produces less carbon. These schemes are helpful and also address other Sustainable Development Goals but should be used alongside carbon removal offsetting which is far more efficient.

2. Within carbon removal, move towards long-term carbon storage

New technologies (like direct air capture) sequester far more carbon than trees in the long term. They absorb carbon from the atmosphere and store it underground for up to millions of years. Compared to this, the 100 years worth of carbon most trees absorb is small in comparison. 

It’s also been found that some offsetting tree plantations damage local biodiversity as introducing a sudden influx of one species disturbs the natural balance of the local environment. 

So if you are planting trees, check the details before you buy. To align your offsetting with your net zero goal you should gradually increase the proportion of carbon removals (over carbon avoidance) as well as the portion of long-term storage (over short-term storage). 

These projects are new and far more expensive than tree planting but should reduce in price over time (plus you should have a smaller footprint so will need to buy fewer offsets).

3. Choose offsets that are verifiable and have a low risk of negative unintended consequences

Opt for projects that are transparent, work in alignment with local biodiversity and with the local community.

Read more on what you need to know about carbon offsets on our blog: what you need to know about carbon offsetting.

Thoughts, comments, questions? Just get in touch.