You already know what the Carbon Footprint is, and it’s impact is not just limited to our daily lives, but also on the world at large. However, did you also know that it is possible to buy Carbon Credit to compensate for the carbon emissions that businesses and people make?
Because it is the main responsible gas in the imbalance of the Greenhouse Effect, we need to confront global warming and climate change which are already, showing their presence. Therefore, if not alter the way we deal with carbon, we will have an uncertain future.
Based on the idea that the amount of carbon emitted into the air is concerning the concept of carbon credit was developed in 1997, based on the Kyoto Protocol.
The idea was tied in the direction of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. Countries needed to reduce their emissions by 5.2 percent, in comparison to the 1990 levels as well as taking part significantly in environmental concerns.
The objectives of nations as well as companies must be designed to decrease carbon emissions, without the requirement to purchase credits. The less that purchase is required and the less carbon is required, the less carbon will be released into the air.
Learn more about the use of carbon credits in addition to its benefits and drawbacks in this article.
What is the source of carbon?
The process of photosynthesis is one of the most popular methods of making carbon. Living beings absorb solar energy and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and transform the CO2 into oxygen. Through breathing and decomposition of living things carbon is also released.
Carbon is produced by aquatic, terrestrial, animal and plant beings. These are the products that result from the process of decomposition as well as through the use of fossil fuels, such as oil, coal, or natural gas. Furthermore, carbon production happens on a daily basis through destruction of forests, pollution, and fires.
What are Carbon’s biggest issues?
Carbon production started to be a problem due to the huge amount of production. The process, which would be normal and balanced, was intensified with human activities after the Industrial Revolution. This is why the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has become so bad.
The emissions that are released into the atmosphere interfere with the natural warming on Earth. Instead of having a perfect climate change effect that is vital to maintain a balanced temperature on Earth We must be aware of overheating as the higher levels of gases responsible for this process prevents the heat from going out into space.
The concentration of greenhouse gases alters the entire ecosystem on Earth and causes global warming. Overheating can cause global climate change. Our whole lifestyle is dependent on the seasons, either too much or not enough rain. Intense heat and extreme cold are a couple of details that totally alter the nature of life on Earth.
Therefore, we follow drastic shifts like:
melting glaciers;
Floods and droughts
loss of biodiversity
volcanoes erupting, etc.
What exactly is Carbon compensation?
There are many initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. However, certain emissions are inexplicably inevitable. However, they can be neutralized or compensated for in the sense that investments are made in actions to equalize the amount of carbon that is released.
A carbon credit is one ton of carbon emitted into the atmosphere. The price varies, and currently in Brazil the price is around R$2000. Countries are able to purchase and sell carbon credits, as do corporations. But this market shouldn’t be seen as a solution for releasing carbon at will. On the contrary.
Carbon compensation is possible by taking simple steps in daily life, like decreasing energy usage. Being a green lifestyle can also be a method to offset carbon emissions, and you are able to:
recycle;
choosing one or two times each week to not eat meat for a couple of days;
rethink the use of the car;
Have a conscious consumption
amongst others.
The changes that companies make on a daily basis have to be taken into account along with those made by people.
Businesses must choose to invest in sustainable infrastructure, maintaining an environmental consciousness and even encouraging environmental actions with employees. Furthermore, they should to consider various forms of compensation, for example, the purchase of carbon credits.
Another alternative for companies is to encourage planting trees and creating green areas. It is also possible for people to join this green movement and also support organizations that encourage sustainable actions. Carbon compensation is a necessity that needs to be contemplated by everyone in order to ensure that the environment is not deteriorating for the life on Earth.
Find out more in our post What does a carbon footprint mean? And how does it impact your life. In it, you’ll be able to learn more about carbon and the effects of carbon on your life. There is still details to help you limit carbon dioxide emissions.
Who is able to neutralize carbon emissions?
The carbon emissions that are released can be offset by individuals and businesses.
It is becoming more popular for businesses to be involved in the process of neutralizing emissions and buying carbon credits through Axsess. Even large global companies participate in this movement, including Apple, Google, Microsoft, Mercedes-Benz and Unilever. In Brazil, Natura put into practice its Carbon Neutral Program in 2007.
Companies are recognizing the link between environmental issues and economic growth. Thus, as well as investing in sustainable initiatives, they are creating carbon neutralization goals. Projects are as diverse as is possible, and they could be:
Investment in renewable energy sources;
Zero waste
make biodegradable material;
development of eco-friendly vehicles;
create a sustainable production chain;
as well as.
Along with the actions and changes in the production cycle of businesses, some companies make investments in the acquisition and selling of carbon credits which have become a new currency on the financial market. A carbon credit is equal to one tonne of carbon that has not lost to the atmosphere.
Countries are also part of the effort to eliminate emissions. Similar to the case of companies, their actions have to be thought out to be sustainable. In addition, they could be part of the carbon credit market.
Benefits of the Carbon Credit
As we have mentioned before every carbon credit equates to one tonne of carbon dioxide that wasn’t released into the atmosphere. Thus, just getting the credit an advantage. A country or company who doesn’t see alternatives to reduce the emission of its products sees an advantage by purchasing this credit.
For some organisations, countries and companies, the advantage is in the selling of carbon credits since they are institutions that manage to reduce the use of carbon. They improve their economic standing by offering the money they can invest in sustainable initiatives that they design.
A purchase of carbon credit by businesses who are eco-conscious enhances their image. Sometimes, the company is environmentally conscious but it still emits an amount of carbon will not stop releasing. In this scenario the purchase of credit shows how much the company considers encouraging sustainable actions.
Carbon Credit has disadvantages. Credit
The major drawback of carbon credit is that it’s in this exchange market. Certain countries and institutions can take advantage of this market , allowing them to continue to emit their greenhouse gases. They are not investing in measures to reduce emissions since they are able to buy unlimited credits.
In this scenario it is clear that a reduction of just 1 ton of carbon, that is, one credit, is not enough. Becausein the end the person using this ton, so there will not be any reduction in emissions. This is one of the reasons why it is causing a lot of debate between environmentalists and world leaders.
Carbon credit also needs to be thought of in a sustainable way. It is an alternative for emergency needs that is not based on the notion that it is a way to save.
All of us must focus on decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. Only in this way will you be in a position to reverse the negative consequences caused by global warming.
