Carbon Offsetting: What Is It and How Do We Recommend Using It at BlueSkies?

Carbon offsetting and carbon trading are integral to contemporary climate strategies. These concepts are enshrined in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (Paris 2015) and were re-affirmed at the COP26 climate conference. Carbon offsetting is not a fringe concept; it's mainstream and credible.

The core idea of carbon offsetting is to offer individuals and businesses the opportunity to invest in projects that reduce or eliminate carbon emissions—projects that, without this investment, wouldn't have taken place.

However, carbon offsetting isn't without controversy. Common concerns include:

• Is the carbon sequestration real, or is it exaggerated?
• Does carbon offsetting simply allow businesses and individuals to continue with high CO2-emitting activities?

1. Accreditation Matters: We only support projects accredited by the Gold Standard or Verified Carbon Standard.
   Gold Standard:
   Established in 2003 by WWF and other international NGOs, Gold Standard projects not only combat climate change but also contribute to sustainable development. For instance, they may provide communities with clean water, protect endangered species, improve health, or generate local employment. More information can be found at Gold Standard's official site.
   
   Verified Carbon Standard (VCS):
   Projects under the VCS undergo a rigorous assessment process. They span diverse sectors such as renewable energy and forestry. Emissions reduced by these projects are issued as VCUs, with each VCU equivalent to one metric tonne of greenhouse gas emissions reduced or removed. Details are available on Verra’s official site.
2. It's Not 'Business-as-Usual': Ideally, we wouldn’t need carbon offsetting. Yet, expecting an immediate and total cessation of carbon-emitting activities isn't pragmatic. Many people can't instantly abandon their combustion cars or gas boilers, nor can everyone afford to achieve a net-zero footprint immediately. The reality is that transition takes time and resources. Carbon offsetting is a viable intermediate solution.

Our Strategy:
At BlueSkies, our approach is succinct: Measure first, then reduce, and, as a last resort, offset.

It’s not just about Carbon reduction or planting trees

A feature of many offset projects is the social good they can do. And the CO2 reductions come from previously un-thought of places.

One project in India involves installing biogas systems in rural Indian households to generate a sustainable energy source that can be used for cooking instead of firewood. It has a secondary impact of transforming daily life, particularly for women who are no longer burdened with the need to collect firewood. Household and community health is improved too, as the clean-burning biogas does not create indoor smoke, it reduces the risk of burns, and provides a means to dispose of livestock waste, aiding rural sanitation.

One project in Cambodia provides clean drinking water to under-served rural areas where previously people had little choice but to drink contaminated water from rivers, ponds and swamps. At best, they could purchase fresh water, or if they had the resources, they could collect firewood to boil and purify the water first. By providing clean drinking water, it greatly improves the health and lifestyle of rural Cambodians, especially children who suffer early on from water-borne diseases, whilst also reducing the need to buy fuel for boiling water. For the planet, the project is cutting emissions by removing the need to boil water, or drive to purchase it, and is easing the pressure on Cambodia’s vibrant forests where firewood was previously sourced.

By being registered with either the Gold Standard or Verified Carbon Standard we can be sure that projects are being independently monitored and all carbon reductions have been verified.