Carbon offsetting: how it works, quality and limits
Carbon offsetting funds projects that reduce or sequester emissions to counterbalance residual emissions. It comes after reduction, never instead of it.
Carbon credits: definition
A carbon credit represents one tonne of CO₂e avoided or sequestered by a project (reforestation, renewables, capture, etc.). The company buys credits to offset part of its emissions.
Quality criteria
A good credit is additional (the project would not have happened without funding), permanent, third-party verified and free of double counting. Recognised labels provide guarantees.
The place of offsetting
Offsetting must never delay reduction. The rule: measure, reduce as much as possible, then offset the unavoidable residual, with full transparency.
Frequently asked questions
Does offsetting make you carbon neutral?
Not on its own. Credible neutrality first requires strong reduction, then quality, documented offsetting of the residual.
What are the risks of offsetting?
Greenwashing if you offset without reducing, and low-quality projects (non-additional, non-permanent). Hence the importance of verification.