A carbon offset is a reduction of emissions. The emitter who wishes to offset their emissions buys carbon credits in the amount of the emissions they would like to offset. The money from the sale of the credits funds projects that reduce emissions in the same amount as the emissions being offset). The holder of the credits is effectively the owner of the reductions, and so buyer has effectively reduced total emissions by the same amount as they emit, and so are overall CarbonZero. Since global warming is caused by the overall level of green house gas in the atmosphere, an emission anywhere can be offset by a reduction anywhere else. In the end all emissions are mixed in the atmosphere.

Why offset? Our clients offset their emissions for a number of reasons:

- To offer their clients the chance to offset their emissions, which in turn attracts clients with an environmental commitment
- To demonstrate environmental commitment
- To balance the contribution they make to global warming by reducing an amount of green house gas emissions equivalent to what they emit
- To obtain CarbonZero certification

Visit ERCC’s partner in offsetting, co2balance, to learn more.