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Is there an easy way for companies or individuals to offset (or more than offset) their carbon footprint?

by cwxm 7y ago

ajross 7y ago
There are multiple non-profits selling carbon offsets, usually at very reasonable prices. But it's not a regulated industry and the science behind this kind of analysis is complicated. None of them are selling simple products like "yes, we absolutely sequestered this much CO2 on an energy budget of this many MWh", so whether or not their projects "work" depends on proving how long their forests will stand, etc... There's serious worry that these organizations do more harm than good by significantly overstating their net offsets. Really the only verifiable solution to carbon output is going to be reductions in net production.
ticmasta 7y ago
You can significantly change your lifestyle and decision making process that will lead to behaviours that reduce your footprint. ... or were you looking for an answer like "buy some carbon offsets"? I really don't want to pick on the parent comment, but the question seems like "Is there an easy way to effect meaningful, systematic change?" I hear a lot of people talking about this and related issues but the things they propose are just not going to get it done. No one wants to stop traveling, drive less, eat local produce all winter, give up a globalized supply chain and their current lifestyle; meanwhile the frog is being slowly boiled alive...
- the_gastropod 7y ago
  Hear hear! I feel like carbon offsets are basically the contemporary version of Catholic indulgences. Don't change your behavior one iota, but still feel guilt-free because you've paid for your forgiveness. It's incredible how hard it is to motivate people to change their behaviors even just a little. Even just tiny things like convincing people to grab a real glass from the cabinet to get water instead of a single-use plastic cup on top of the water cooler at work seem impossible.
- hirsin 7y ago
  I discussed this with a coworker the other day - buying carbon offsets is a good way of pricing convenience vs urge to do good in the environment. He drives to work every day, because taking the bus is a hassle/takes time, etc. What's the value to him of taking the bus? Helping the environment in some unspecified way. If he pays for carbon offsets for his driving, he can now say "hey, taking the bus saves me $x/month, I think that's (not) worth it".
jborichevskiy 7y ago
I've been using AirCare to offset my flights. http://air.care/ http://air.care/
phased20 7y ago
As a direct answer, a few friends built Project Wren to do exactly this! You can offset your own carbon footprint (or some multiple of it) and gift offsets to others. They went through YC this summer and are doing great work to make this easy and transparent. https://projectwren.com/ https://projectwren.com/

Is there an easy way for companies or individuals to offset (or more than offset) their carbon footprint?

by cwxm 7y ago

Is there an easy way for companies or individuals to offset (or more than offset) their carbon footprint?

There are multiple non-profits selling carbon offsets, usually at very reasonable prices. But it's not a regulated industry and the science behind this kind of analysis is complicated. None of them are selling simple products like "yes, we absolutely sequestered this much CO2 on an energy budget of this many MWh", so whether or not their projects "work" depends on proving how long their forests will stand, etc... There's serious worry that these organizations do more harm than good by significantly overstating their net offsets. Really the only verifiable solution to carbon output is going to be reductions in net production.

ticmasta 7y ago

You can significantly change your lifestyle and decision making process that will lead to behaviours that reduce your footprint. ... or were you looking for an answer like "buy some carbon offsets"? I really don't want to pick on the parent comment, but the question seems like "Is there an easy way to effect meaningful, systematic change?" I hear a lot of people talking about this and related issues but the things they propose are just not going to get it done. No one wants to stop traveling, drive less, eat local produce all winter, give up a globalized supply chain and their current lifestyle; meanwhile the frog is being slowly boiled alive...

the_gastropod 7y ago
Hear hear! I feel like carbon offsets are basically the contemporary version of Catholic indulgences. Don't change your behavior one iota, but still feel guilt-free because you've paid for your forgiveness. It's incredible how hard it is to motivate people to change their behaviors even just a little. Even just tiny things like convincing people to grab a real glass from the cabinet to get water instead of a single-use plastic cup on top of the water cooler at work seem impossible.
hirsin 7y ago
I discussed this with a coworker the other day - buying carbon offsets is a good way of pricing convenience vs urge to do good in the environment. He drives to work every day, because taking the bus is a hassle/takes time, etc. What's the value to him of taking the bus? Helping the environment in some unspecified way. If he pays for carbon offsets for his driving, he can now say "hey, taking the bus saves me $x/month, I think that's (not) worth it".

jborichevskiy 7y ago

I've been using AirCare to offset my flights. http://air.care/ http://air.care/

phased20 7y ago

As a direct answer, a few friends built Project Wren to do exactly this! You can offset your own carbon footprint (or some multiple of it) and gift offsets to others. They went through YC this summer and are doing great work to make this easy and transparent. https://projectwren.com/ https://projectwren.com/