Our Thinking
Can offsets work?
In the US, we account for 20% of man made greenhouse gas emissions, with less than 5% of the population. What if the other 95% all lived like we do? Footprint reduction through conservation and smarter consumer choices is critical, but most of us will still be far above a level that is sustainable for the planet.
Without using offsets, there is no way to close this gap. When done right, offsetting your footprint supports global solutions and real change. The catch is that not all offsets do that.
Featured Projects
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Costa Rican Rainforests
Through a nonprofit called FUNDECOR, nearly 100 square miles in the central volcanic mountain range of Costa Rica are being set aside for forest preservation. The project is part of a country-wide program stopping the destruction of the Costa Rican rain forest which has thus far recaptured 26 percent of the country's land-mass-to-forest cover, sequestering millions of tons of carbon. Most of these humid tropical rainforests are old-growth, or mature second-growth, and noted for their extreme diversity of species. Besides fighting global warming, the forests preserve priceless biodiversity, protect local aquifers and watersheds, and mitigate erosion.
Forests
- Region:
- Costa Rica
- Offset:
- $12.00 / Ton
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Trees for Global Benefit, Uganda
Trees for Global Benefit in Uganda brings opportunity for farmers and small-scale land holders to use their land in a sustainable but profitable manner by creating sustainable forestry and protecting the land for reforestation. Farmer income and technical training offered through the project allows the farmers to protect the land and pursue sustainable agriculture options rather than clear it for intensive farming. The project also encourages biodiversity preservation. Serving as a buffer zone around the Kyambura Wildlife Reserve and several neighboring forest preserves. It protects an extensive equatorial riverine forest, best noted for the resident chimpanzees and an incredibly diverse population of birds, mammals and butterflies.
Fair Trade
- Region:
- Uganda
- Offset:
- $10.50 / Ton
Forum Discussions
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Let's go green. For the sake of the world young generations.
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...and we need to care the environment.. this is " our place , our future and our life ".