Back to Solutions Center

Carbon Offsets

Category: Financial/Accounting Strategies

A carbon offset is a tradable instrument that represents the reduction or removal of one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent. Carbon offsets fund projects that reduce greenhouse gasses, ranging from reforestation to renewable energy investments. Offsets can be bought and sold to transfer climate benefit between entities. Carbon offsets are different from RECs.

Benefits

  • Provides an attainable, short-term solution to reach carbon neutrality while more costly and time-intensive projects are underway
  • When done correctly, offsets can fund sustainable projects worldwide and provide a framework for incentivizing better resource management
  • Thoughtful participation by higher education institutions can stimulate improvements and alternatives to the voluntary carbon market

Challenges

  • Offset projects and their methodologies can be complicated, resulting in lack of understanding about actual project impact and additionality
  • Some offset mechanisms face criticism around credibility, justice, and greenwashing
  • If projects are far from campus, there may not be a strong connection to the institution or trust that impact is on par with intentions
Carbon Offsets

Impacts

  • GHG Impact

    Large

    Offsets can mitigate a lot of CO2.  

  • Economic Impact

    Small Net Cost

    This is a purchase with no return on investment.

  • Feasibility

    Doable

    Easiest way to immediately reduce net emissions.  

  • Timeline

    < 1 year

    Offsets can be bought at any time. 

  • Maintenance

    Moderate

    The offset is achieved when purchased, but continuous evaluation is advised.

  • Publicity

    That's cool

    Campus community may not be well informed.

American University Offsets Study

American University purchases verified carbon offsets as a third-tier strategy in their sustainability plan, emphasizing on-campus carbon reductions and changes to indirect emissions first. The University selects a portfolio of carbon credits that align with different sources of emissions. AU purchased offsets from a clean cookstoves project in Kenya to offset their study abroad travel emissions. AU also looks for projects that have co-benefits to the community where the project is located or where information from the projects can be used in classrooms. The cookstove project was selected because it occurs in the Kenyan communities where the University already has relationships, and the project fulfills community and economic co-benefits over and above the offsets it provides. This strategy and these projects are evaluated on an ongoing basis to ensure the impact is in line with the goals.

Second Nature Carbon Offset Resources

Second Nature provides diverse resources to campuses with respect to carbon offsets, including guidance on overall strategy, technical assistance in developing and verifying offset projects, and facilitation of student and faculty engagement in developing peer-reviewed offsets. 

Carbon Offsets Providers

Don’t stop here!

Explore our full collection of Climate Action Solutions:

See all Climate Solutions