What is Carbon Offsetting?
- A widely accepted practice to compensate for the CO2 produced by the burning of fossil fuels in one location or application by paying for a corresponding reduction in CO2 produced in another location or application.
- A standard component of the mitigation practices called for by the Kyoto treaty.
- Widely practiced in Europe.
- Common practice in the US in voluntary programs. For example, both Expedia and Travelocity have programs to purchase carbon offsets along with their travel booking services for commercial airlines.
- Increasingly practiced by US public figures, such as California’s Governor Schwarzenegger and Al Gore, the former Vice President of the United States.