"The primary role of carbon offsets is to encourage people to take responsibility for 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-eCarbon dioxide equivalent. In order to compare emissions between the six Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gases they have been assigned a global warming potential (GWP) measured in carbon dioxide equivalents to reflect their influence on warming the atmosphere. GWP is a relative scale, where CO2 = 1. The other gases are given a number based on their effect on the atmosphere relative to CO2. For example, methane has a GWP of 21, meaning it has 21 times the amount of heating capacity of CO2. emissions produced. . Carbon offsets are the final step after a company or individual has reduced their footprint through energy efficiencyEnergy efficiency improvements refer to a reduction in the energy used for a given service (heating, lighting, etc.) or level of activity. Such savings are generally achieved by substituting technologically more advanced equipment to produce the same level of end-use services (e.g. lighting, heating, motor drive) with less electricity. and behavioural change.
Cleaner Climate is an international project developerThe person or organisation that set up an offset generating project for the purpose of selling carbon offsets and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. for CDMClean Development MechanismClean Development Mechanism is a Kyoto Protocol mechanism under which projects set up in developing countries to reduce GHGs generate tradeable credits called CERs. The credits can be used by industrialised nations to help meet their Kyoto reduction targets. Find out more here. is a Kyoto ProtocolAn international agreement linked to the UNFCCC and sharing its aim of stabilising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, but requiring separate ratification by governments. The Kyoto Protocol, among other things, sets binding targets for the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions by industrialized countries. It entered into force for ratifying countries in February 2006 and commits developed nations to collectively cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2 per cent of 1990 levels by 2012. Came into force in Australia on 11 March 2008. mechanism under which projects set up in developing countries to reduce GHGs generate tradeable credits called CERsCertified Emission Reductions are credits generated under Kyoto's CDM. One CER unit is equivalent to the reduction of one metric tonne of CO2e. They are designed to be used by industrialised countries to count towards meeting their Kyoto targets. They can also be used as part of domestic targets, for example EU companies and governments use them as offsets against their emissions under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.. The credits can be used by industrialised nations to help meet their Kyoto reduction targets. Find out more here. /JIThe Kyoto Protocol Joint Implementation mechanism allows developed countries to earn credits in the form of Emission Reduction Units (ERUs) when they finance projects that reduce net greenhouse gas emissions in another developed country. For more information see here. projects."