• The Carbon Offset Guide is intended to be a resource for businesses, government agencies, NGO 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.
• At present scope of the website will focus on retailers of carbon offsets in the Australian market. This website is expected to be expanded over time to meet the needs of businesses reducing their carbon footprints.
• 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 by 22 May 2008. 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 footprint. 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 April 2009. While effort has been made to check the accuracy of this information, the creators of this website EPA Victoria and Global Sustainability at RMIT do not accept responsibility for evaluating the accuracy, completeness or usefulness 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.
• Global Sustainability at RMIT and EPA have created 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.

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• Global Sustainability at RMIT University (GS) and EPA Victoria (EPA) formed a partnership in mid-2007 to produce the Carbon Offset Guide.
• The project has drawn upon prior GS research into carbon offset market, which culminated in report 'Carbon Offset Providers in Australia' in May 2007. Read GS's report.
• In working with business through its Carbon Innovators Network during 2007, EPA found that many businesses are interested in finding out more about carbon offsets. As a result, EPA provided answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) on its website. Read EPA's FAQ web pages.
• The Carbon Offset Guide aims to bring together these two resources into a web-based resource that can be upgraded and expanded to reflect changes in this market and meet user's information needs.

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• Purchasing carbon offsets can be a complicated process. We have drafted a carbon offset transaction model to help people understand this process. If you have any comments on this model, please provide comments here.
• In addition to the transaction model, please refer to a set of tips for purchasing offsets to help you get started with understanding carbon offsets.
• A carbon offset is an investment in a project or activity that reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or sequesters carbon from the atmosphere this is used to compensate for GHG emissions of your own activities.
• Find out more about carbon offsets.

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• Both EPA and GS regard carbon offsets as only one aspect of an organisation's or individual's broader carbon management strategy. An effective carbon strategy first accurately calculate the direct and indirect GHG emissions from a businesses 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 principles to guide its own decision-making process in becoming carbon neutral. 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, Sequester, 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.

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