Day 11: Buying Carbon Offsets

Cross Ranch Presesrve, North Dakota

"Remember that the first and most important step we can take to help fight climate change is to make choices that will reduce our overall emissions. But voluntary carbon offsets are a supplemental way of making a difference that can further help reduce the buildup of carbon pollution that is causing climate change." 
The Nature Conservancy 

A few days ago I said that I might consider purchasing a carbon offset to alleviate my guilt about buying two tickets to Acapulco.   Well, I did.  I am now supporting The Nature Conservancy's projects to protect existing forests, plant new trees and improve forest management.  Right now I am only  contributing to allay my guilt about the plane trip - $75 worth rounding up - but they do supply a carbon footprint calculator that you can use to estimate your annual carbon use and sign up to buy offsets for the whole shebang.  I'm not quite ready for that, though I do have a great deal of respect for the work The Nature Conservancy is doing and it is something to consider.

I first became aware of the Nature Conservancy one morning when Gordon and I went walking in the Cross Ranch Preserve, in North Dakota.  This is a ranch that was purchased by the Nature Conservancy to protect some native grassland above the last remaining stretch of undammed water on the Missouri.  It was so peaceful and beautiful and I was so impressed that there was an organization out there that buys up land that needs to be protected rather than waiting for the government to do it.  I've continued to be impressed with their work.  I like that they have a collaborative approach to their projects, working with business and local people to create win win scenarios for their conservation projects.

I have a built in trust that their carbon offset program is a good one and the description of their approach  is reassuring as well.  There are plenty of carbon offset opportunities out there but I expect they vary considerably in just how effective they might be.  Here is an interesting article from the Wiki How on how to buy a carbon offset program.  Check out also the FAQ for the Nature Conservancy program for things to consider in a carbon offset program.

And in case you are wondering - the concept of a carbon offset is that I pay to support a project that will eliminate the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide that my behavior has created.  Trees are great because they actually suck up carbon dioxide and I like that the Nature Conservancy projects address both the conservation of existing forests that are in danger as well as planting new trees (which  can take some time to have significant environmental impact).