To combat this rise in CO₂, environmentalistsIn order to help people and habitats battling at the forefront against climate change, the carbon offset provides some of the best support a company can give.

Scientists and scientific institutions that have taken a stand agree that to avoid catastrophic climate change, carbon emissions must come down by as much as 80 percent over the next four decades. Carbon offsets go a long way towards reaching that goal. These are credits for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions made elsewhere, for example, at wind farms, in biomass plants, or by hydroelectric dams. They provide funding to finance renewable energy projects and reduce fossil-fuel consumption.

A company that buys one ton of carbon offsets prevents that much CO2 from entering the atmosphere, for example, by substituting solar or hydro power for energy derived from burning coal.

A fast means of reducing carbon output, it can also benefit local communities by providing employment and development opportunities.

Credibility matters: Every carbon offset must be trustworthy, so that the investing company knows it reduces emissions that would not have occurred otherwise and does result in increased emissions elsewhere. What’s more, it must be verifiably and permanently retired so it cannot be resold or traded.

Why offset your carbon emissions?The general consensus is that a growing population and increasing consumption will drive energy demand and cause global temperatures to rise, perhaps by as little as two or as much as four or more degrees Celsius in the century ahead. But however sharply temperatures actually rise, the scientific mainstream believes we need to slash overall global emissions to prevent dramatic climate change and a severely adverse impact on our economy.

A carbon reduction initiative that uses offset incentives has an immediate impact. A cost-effective response to public pressure, an offset program is a viable means of meeting carbon reduction goals and mitigating future risks. Businesses opt for offsets on ethical as well as practical grounds. They want to be part of the climate change solution and be prepared for a future where carbon is costly and strictly regulated.

The logic behind offsets is straightforward: As far as the atmosphere goes, it doesn’t matter where greenhouse gases come from; what matters is bringing the total down. Your firm can offset the GHG it is unable to reduce on its own, benefiting the climate and financing projects that further reduce emissions and help people in need.