How Carbon Offset Work

One of the tools in the Creation Care toolbox is the carbon offset.  A carbon offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made to compensate for emissions made elsewhere.  People may buy them to offset air travel or part of their total greenhouse gas emissions as a household.  Some airlines offer them to offset the significant emissions associated with flying. I went to the website Terrapass and found out that for traveling from Boston to San Francisco and back, my estimated emissions would be 3,487 pounds of CO2 and an offset would cost $17.40.   
You may ask, is this effective?  According to a study by Stanford University of California mandated program limiting carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, they are effective because they’ve required forest owners to change their practices as part of making credits available and polluting companies have had to reduce emissions because the pool of available credits is limited.  There have been side benefits in preserving habitat for endangered species. In addition, when you purchase an offset, it may be tax deductible when the offset is purchased from a nonprofit.      
- Ella Ingraham, for the Green Team     

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