Carbon Offsetting

Carbon offsetting is the process of reducing your greenhouse gas emissions by helping to fund projects that mitigate or store carbon pollution.

Carbon offsetting should be explored once you have reduced your carbon footprint as much as possible.

You can reduce your carbon footprint by increasing your resource efficiency at home and work. You can also reduce it by making "low carbon" lifestyle choices, such as reducing car travel and eating less meat and dairy products.

Once you have reduced the carbon associated with your lifestyle as much as possible you can use a carbon calculator to work out how many offsets you need to purchase.

There are a number of different types of carbon offsets that you can choose from. In Australia the main types of emissions offsetting, involve financial support of the following projects;

  • The generation of renewable energy - through purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs),
  • The rollout of energy efficiency programs or initiatives,
  • The containment, combustion and mitigation of methane associated with organic waste, and Carbon sequestration through tree planting.