Carbon offsetting: friend or foe?

Sarah Watts investigates the complex and controversial issue of carbon offsetting.

Five months, and one around the world ticket later and I am left with a life time of memories and some interesting stamps in my passport. There were people I met on my travels who had used many different modes of transport, from train, bus, tram, tuk tuk or even camel! Some back packers I met had just left with an end destination in mind and a desire to travel over land anyway they could. The most adventurous route I discovered was an engineer from London who had got on the Euro shuttle to Paris with an aim of Bali 6 months later. He used any mode of transport he could including the Trans-Siberian railway. Many travellers though do fly, and flying to a number of different airports did make me think about my carbon footprint, which in 2008 will be substantial. Carbon foot printing is a tool to quantify and understand emission sources, which can later be used to indicate areas for future emission reductions.

Carbon offsetting can be part of a strategy to reduce a carbon footprint on both a personal and corporate level. Off setting allows people to indirectly reduce their carbon footprint through purchasing carbon credits which are associated with carbon reduction projects. (Such as energy efficiency programmes or funding renewable power)
The Carbon Trust recommends focusing on direct emissions reduction rather than offsetting the carbon produced. It advices to only purchase high quality offsets from verified projects as the validity of "carbon projects" have been brought under fire. Sceptics of the scheme argue buying an offset is just a pain free way at buying compliancy and a guilt free pass to carry on as normal.

People are often unwilling to make a huge life style choice but are much more willing to make a small payment for the feel good factor off setting generates. Small scale voluntary offsetting projects can make a difference to carbon levels and the lives of some of the poorest people, such as enabling women in Nepal to swap their firewood for cleaner biogas stoves. These schemes are very unlikely to neutralise carbon footprints in the western world but do help people most in need.

Reducing pollution and our impact on the environment is a goal we need to be increasingly focused on. Carbon offsetting is riddled with problems but debate over carbon emissions and the pros and cons of offsetting should hopefully spark a broader debate on the issue which may lead to the development of new areas to explore.

Larger schemes which were brandished as the solution in the beginning have come under greater scrutiny in recent times, especially the credentials of some tree planting schemes. In theory I like offsetting schemes but I doubt much of the money filters through to the right projects, I think if you want to truly make a difference to your carbon footprint the buck stops at your doorstep.