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Emissions -

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of emissions released into the environment has noticeably decreased. The climate fight has looked a little more promising since people started staying at home.

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Paris Agreement -

The international climate agreement, named the Paris Agreement, aims to make sure the global temperature does not rise by more than 1.5°C (34.7°F).

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Hope -

If we were to continue reducing our environmental footprint as we have done in 2020, then reaching the 1.5°C (34.7°F) goal is possible in the long run.

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Opening up -

However, it is unlikely that our emissions will stay so low. As we learn to tackle COVID-19, countries will open up and the economy will get back into gear. The money machine will move again. Generally, economic growth brings with it higher emissions.

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What is it? -

The theory of carbon offsetting is simple. Institutions or individuals that emit emissions into the environment can pay for initiatives that take carbon, or other pollutants, out of the atmosphere.

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The solution? -

Consequently, the emissions of the individual or the company are canceled out, as if they never released anything in the first place.

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The solution? -

By this logic, stopping climate change would be as easy as everyone investing in programs to offset their environmental footprint.

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But... -

Although this sounds like a nice and neat solution, things are not as easy as they seem. Taking this simplistic view of climate change would set the human race up much like this man. It would be very stupid.

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Not so simple -

This is not to say that carbon offsetting is ineffective. It will be part of the wider solution, but it cannot solve climate change on its own.

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The root -

The real solution to climate change is to not release emissions into the atmosphere in the first place. When you start carbon offsetting, there are unintended consequences that can worsen the climate situation.

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Negative impact -

Critics of carbon offsetting believe it is actually bad for the environment because the programs give the impression that emissions can just be erased, but this is not true.

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Who does it? -

Carbon offsetting can be done by a company in compliance with laws set by the government, or on an individual scale. For example, an oil company is only allowed to sell at a certain price if they plant X amount of trees.

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Types of offsetting: nature -

Offsetting can be done in many ways, but we will go through the main ones. Nature-based offsets aim to protect and restore areas that naturally clean the air.

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Natural offsets -

These kinds of programs include protecting mangrove forests, rain forests, and water ecosystems. If a company protects an area that takes in carbon dioxide, then it can release the same amount into the atmosphere.

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Benefits -

Natural offsets can have more benefits than just absorbing emissions from the air. Protecting a natural area can help animal populations survive, reduce the risk of natural disasters, and support local economies.

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Agricultural offsets -

A company could also invest in initiatives that reduce the emissions released from the livestock trade. These measures include feeding cows special food so that they don't produce methane in their flatulence. They can also use special soil that takes in carbon from the atmosphere.

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Direct air capture -

The most straightforward method is literally capturing emissions as they are produced. Direct capture involves filtering the emissions released from the exhaust process to take out the carbon.

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Direct air capture -

When the carbon is caught through filtration, it is then stored in basaltic rock underground. Basaltic rock can retain carbon without releasing it into the air.

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Others offsets -

Institutions can also invest in green initiatives such as bicycles to reduce the emissions released from transport. Investing in landfill management is also classed as an offset.

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Insetting -

Now, companies are innovatively trying to incorporate offsetting measures into their supply chain. This is called insetting. For example, a supermarket may produce their own salad to offset the transport emissions of other goods, while also attracting more customers with fresh produce.

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Issues -

If offsetting was the ultimate solution, climate change would already be solved. However, as it stands, there are many issues with offsetting. For instance, it is not very difficult to make it look like you are offsetting when you are actually not. 

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Additionality -

Companies have to prove that they are making an additional impact. In other words, that they are not investing in an offsetting scheme that might have happened anyway.

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Additionality -

In order to make sure the investments in offsetting programs are actually making a difference, there needs to be a lot of research into the initiatives such as local surveys and scientific proof. The projects should be as customized to specific problems as possible.

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Permanence -

Another issue with offsetting is that it needs to be a long-term solution. On the one hand, this is easy when the offset is a one-time project such as direct carbon capture.

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Permanence -

On the other hand, it is more difficult to ensure the permanence of nature-based solutions because the programs usually stretch out over a long period of time.

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Permanence -

As Donald Trump is showing here with his authorization of a large oil pipeline, it is difficult to predict exactly what will happen in the future. Offset programs can be stopped by a change in government or an unexpected natural disaster.

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Credit -

Another issue is that, in order to seem environmentally friendly, companies will take credit for the same offsetting programs, and so no real impact is made.

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Leakage -

Moreover, it's possible that when a company invests in a carbon offsetting program, instead of reducing the emissions in the environment, the polluting practice just moves to another area to avoid the offsetting schemes.

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Greenwashing -

These issues can all be part of "greenwashing." This is when companies appear to be green but are actually still polluting the environment. For example, supermarkets now sell plastic bags that you can reuse, but they are still unbiodegradable plastic bags that pollute the environment.

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Not all bad -

Despite the issues, carbon offsetting can be a positive move towards a greener world. Nevertheless, it is important to research how companies are doing it rather than just taking their word for it. 

Sources: (Global Citizen) (Vox)

See also: The environmental impact of COVID-19

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