• The Carbon Offset Guide is intended to be a resource for businesses, government agencies, NGONon-governmental organization (NGO) is a term that has become widely accepted as referring to a legally constituted, non-governmental organization created by natural or legal persons with no participation or representation of any government. In the cases in which NGOs are funded totally or partially by governments, the NGO maintains its non-governmental status and excludes government representatives from membership in the organization. organisations and individuals seeking information about offsets.
• The aim of this website is to provide an independent directory of Australian carbon offset providers. It is hoped this will improve the understanding of the offset market by Australian businesses, as well as the broader community, and facilitate better environmental and economic outcomes.  
• The information presented in the Carbon Offset Guide website will be reviewed every 6 months. New providers can be added to the website at this time, and information for old providers updated. The information presented in the current version was supplied to the Carbon Offset Guide in September 2011. New developments in the market since that time will be reflected in the next release of the website. To be kept informed about new releases of the website, subscribe online for important updates.
• For the purpose of this website, retailing carbon offsets refers to the sale of carbon offsets to final end-users to reduce their carbon footprintA measure of the greenhouse gas emissions attributable to an activity; it is commonly used at an individual, household or business level. It calculates the direct and indirect amount of CO2-e emissions produced. . This definition may also be amended over time.
• The information presented in the Carbon Offset Guide was primarily informed by an online survey sent to providers in August 2011. While effort has been made to check the accuracy of this information, the creators of this website EPA Victoria and Low Carbon Australia LimitedA company established by the Australian Government to provide financial solutions and advice to Australian business, government and the wider community to encourage action on energy efficiency, cost-effective carbon reductions through its Energy Efficiency Program. Low Carbon Australia is also the program administrator for the Carbon Neutral Program under the National Carbon Offset Standard. See more in conjunction with the University of Queensland do not accept responsibility for evaluating the accuracy, completeness or authenticity of any content. Please see our disclaimer.
• We hope to make the website as useful as possible. Feedback is welcome on any aspect of the Carbon Offset Guide. Provide comments online.
• The Guide includes a carbon offsets glossary to help readers learn about terms they encounter. These are linked throughout the website, but you can view the full glossary here.

_{Back to top}

• EPA Victoria (EPA) and Low Carbon Australia Limited (with assistance from the University of Queensland) formed a partnership in mid-2011 to ensure the Carbon Offset Guide is updated at 6 monthly intervals.

_{Back to top}

• Purchasing carbon offsets can be a complicated process. We have developed an offset introduction page and drafted a carbon offset transaction model to help people understand both what carbon offsets are and how to purchase the right ones. If you have any comments on this model, please provide comments here.
• In addition to these two resources, please refer to a set of tips for purchasing offsets to help you get started with understanding carbon offsets. You can also use our carbon offsets website resources.

_{Back to top}

• Low Carbon Australia regards carbon offsets as only one aspect of an organisation's or individual's broader carbon management strategy. An effective carbon strategy first accurately calculates the direct and indirect GHGGreenhouse Gases in the earth's atmosphere absorb and re-emit infrared radiation. The Kyoto Protocol lists six major greenhouse gases, which vary in their relative warming effect. The six gases are: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons), PFCs (perfluorocarbons) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). emissions from a business's operations, its products and services; secondly avoid and reduce these emissions where possible, then finally offset those emissions that cannot be reduced further. This approach can optimise financial and environmental outcomes.
• EPA developed the carbon management principlesA set of Principles developed by EPA Victoria to guide carbon management strategies. They are, in order: Measure, Set objectives, Avoid, Reduce, Switch, Sequester, Assess and Offset. Find out more about the carbon management principles here. to guide its own decision-making process in becoming carbon neutralA voluntary mechanism where an activity, event, household, business or organisation is responsible for no net emissions of greenhouse gases and can therefore be declared carbon neutral in that specific area. Carbon neutrality can be achieved by reducing emissions as far as possible (e.g. energy efficiency, purchasing renewable energy) and then purchasing offsets for any residual emissions in order to achieve zero net emissions. . The Principles can also serve as a useful framework for businesses developing their own carbon management strategies.
• The principles are, in order: Measure, Set objectives, Avoid, Reduce, Switch, SequesterThe uptake and storage of carbon from the atmosphere. For example trees and other plants sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow, through the process of photosynthesis., Assess and Offset.
  The principles reflect a continuous improvement model, given the ongoing nature of carbon management and the opportunity to iterate management strategies to optimise environmental and financial outcomes. Find out more about the carbon management principles.

_{Back to top}