We all know what Carbon Footprint is, and its impact doesn’t just affect our daily lives, but also on the entire globe. However, did you also know that it is possible to buy Carbon Credit to compensate for the carbon emissions that businesses and their employees emit?
Since it is the primary responsible gas for the imbalance in the Greenhouse Effect, we need to face global warming and climate change which are already, revealing their presence. So, if we do not change the way we think about carbon, then we’ll have an uncertain future.
With the thought that the amount of carbon that goes into the atmosphere is worrying The concept of carbon credits was introduced in 1997. It was developed based on the Kyoto Protocol.
The idea was linked to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Countries must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2%, compared to the figures recorded in 1990, in addition to participating greater in the environmental concerns.
The goals of nations and businesses must be designed to lower carbon emissions, without the need to purchase credits. Since the less purchase is required and the less carbon is required, the less carbon is released into the atmosphere.
Learn more about the carbon credit and its use and its advantages and disadvantages in this blog post.
What is the source of carbon?
Photosynthesis is the best-known way of producing carbon. Living creatures absorb solar energy in addition to carbon dioxide that is released from the atmosphere and convert this CO2 into oxygen. As they breathe and decomposition of living beings, carbon is also released.
Carbon is created by aquatic, terrestrial, animal, and plant beings. Carbon is produced by the process of decomposition and from the use of fossil fuels including oil, coal, and natural gas. In addition, carbon production occurs every day through pollution, deforestation, and fires.
What are Carbon’s biggest issues?
Carbon production was first identified as an issue because of the excessive amount of its production. The process, which would be natural and balanced, increased with the advent of human activities following the Industrial Revolution. This is why the quantity of carbon in the atmosphere has become so bad.
These emissions to the atmosphere can disrupt the natural process of warming in Earth. Instead of having an ideal greenhouse effect which is vital to ensure a stable temperature on the planet it is necessary to be aware of overheating as the higher concentration of the gases that trigger this process stops the heat from spreading out into space.
The amount of greenhouse gases alters the entire ecosystem on Earth and causes global warming: overheating causes worldwide climate changes. The entire way we live our lives is connected to the seasons. over or under rain. Intense heat and extreme cold are a couple of details that totally alter the dynamic of life on Earth.
We therefore follow drastic modifications like:
melting glaciers;
Droughts and floods;
loss of biodiversity;
volcanoes erupting, etc.
What is Carbon compensation?
There are efforts to slow down carbon emissions. However, some emissions are inevitable. However, they can be neutralized or compensated for which means that investments are made in the actions that make sure that carbon emissions are balanced. released.
One carbon credit is equivalent to one ton of carbon dioxide that is not released to the air. The price varies, and momentarily, in Brazil, it costs around R$2000. Countries can buy and sell carbon credits, as can companies. But, this market should not be considered as the answer to releasing carbon on a whim. It is quite the opposite.
Carbon compensation can be done through simple measures in everyday life, like the reduction of energy use. Having a sustainable lifestyle can also be a method to offset carbon, and you are able to:
recycle;
selecting one or two days each week to not eat meat on a particular day;
Rethink the purpose of cars;
Have a conscious consumption
between others.
The changes made by companies every day must be taken into account along with those made by people.
Businesses should choose sustainable infrastructure, maintaining an awareness of the environment and encouraging environmental actions with employees. In addition, they need to think about forms of compensation, like the purchase of carbon credits.
A different option for businesses is to encourage the planting of trees and creating green spaces. It is also possible for people to join the green movement and even support organizations that promote sustainable choices. Compensating for carbon is a necessity that needs to be thought about by everyone to stop environmental degradation for life on Earth.
Take a look at our article on what can a carbon footprint be? And what is it that it does to your life. In it, you’ll discover more about carbon as well as its effects on your life. It still has details to help you curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Who can offset carbon emissions?
Carbon emissions can be neutralized by companies and people.
It is more common for businesses to be involved in the process of neutralizing emissions and buying carbon credits. Many large multinational companies are involved in this effort, including Apple, Google, Microsoft, Mercedes-Benz and Unilever. In Brazil, Natura put into practice their Carbon Neutral Program in 2007.
Companies are recognizing the link between environmental issues and economic success. Therefore, in addition to investing in sustainable initiatives, they are also establishing goals to reduce carbon emissions. The projects are as diverse as they are possible and may be:
investment in renewable energy;
zero waste;
make biodegradable material;
Creation of eco-friendly automobiles;
create a sustainable production chain;
as well as.
In addition to the actions and modifications in the manufacturing process of businesses, some companies invest in the purchase and selling of carbon credits that have been a new currency in the market for financial instruments. One carbon credit is equivalent to one tonne of carbon that hasn’t lost to the atmosphere.
Countries also participate in this initiative to offset emissions. In the case of enterprises, their decisions need be thought through to be sustainable. In addition, they can be part of the carbon credit market.
The advantages of the Carbon Credit
As was mentioned previously the carbon credit is equivalent 1 ton of carbon that has not been released by the earth. Therefore, getting the credit an advantage. The company or country which doesn’t have the possibility of reducing emissions sees a benefit in the purchase of this credit.
For certain countries, organisations, as well as companies, the value is the opportunity to sell carbon credits. They are institutions that are able to cut down on the use of carbon. By doing this, they improve their economy by giving worth of investing in sustainable projects they design.
Purchase of carbon-based credits by businesses who are eco-conscious can boost their image. Sometimes the company behaves sustainably however, there is certain amounts of carbon can’t be stopped from releasing. In this case the credit purchase is a sign of how much the company takes pride in encouraging sustainable activities.
Advantages of Carbon Credit
The biggest drawback of the carbon credit is precisely within this exchange market. Certain institutions and nations can take advantage of the market and continue to emit their greenhouse gases. They are not investing in initiatives to limit emissions because they can buy unlimited credits.
In this case it is clear that a reduction of just 1 ton of carbon that is 1 credit will never be enough. Since, in reality, there will be a person who uses this ton therefore there will never be an emission reduction. It is a disadvantage that creates a lot of controversy among environmentalists and world leaders.
The usage of carbon credits should be thought of as a sustainable option. Consider it an alternative to emergency situations and not to rely on the assumption that the other has saved.
For information on how to trade carbon credits visit this website.
All of us must focus on decreasing carbon dioxide emissions. This is the only way it be possible to end the negative consequences caused by global warming.