How can carbon offsetting help achieve net-zero emissions?

Often named carbon neutrality, a net-zero pledge has multiple pathways to achieving it. The specific approach may vary depending on the geographic location, available resources, and the particular challenges faced in each sector or industry. But it's important to remember that the emission reduction/elimination strategy should be given the first consideration prior to using the compensation - carbon offsetting resources.

When considering carbon offsetting it’s important to consider both operational carbon, which is the carbon created to provide energy and utilities to a building or office location; and the carbon embodied in construction or fabrication materials with building or refitting an office. Embodied carbon also takes into account the transport of materials, which is why it’s more sustainable to source material locally, and end of life carbon at the stage of demolition. In order to consider net zero requirements you will need to calculate both embodied and operational carbon.

Carbon offsetting can help achieve net zero emissions by allowing organizations or to offset their own emissions by funding projects that remove or reduce emissions elsewhere. This means that if an organization cannot eliminate all of its greenhouse gas emissions, it can still achieve net zero emissions by offsetting its remaining emissions through funding these projects. For example, a company might purchase carbon credits to offset the emissions produced by its manufacturing process. The carbon credits could be used to fund a project that generates renewable energy, which would reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Organizations and individuals should prioritize reducing their own emissions as much as possible before resorting to offsetting.

Before you can embark into a carbon offsetting initiative, first and foremost you have to measure or estimate your GHG footprint to understand how much of it you need to offset. This involves calculating the carbon footprint by assessing various activities such as energy consumption, transportation, waste generation, and industrial processes.

When done right, carbon offsetting can lead to multiple benefits. It provides financial support to emission reduction projects, such as renewable energy initiatives, energy efficiency programs, and sustainable land-use practices. It also incentivizes the development and deployment of innovative technologies that reduce emissions.

Quality and accuracy of carbon offsetting initiatives are currently a controversial topic. Lack of standardized methodologies and inconsistency in measurement approaches can lead to uncertainties in determining the environmental impact of offset projects. A company has to develop a monitoring and evaluation system to assess a true impact and avoid greenwashing.

Absolutely, carbon offsetting is not a solution to net-zero. The preference should be given to carbon reduction. Net-zero path is a strategic intuitive that requires recalibrating operational processes to achieve a sustainable business model. Carbon offset is used to compensated for instances where carbon reduction can't be achieved.