What You Need to Know about Carbon Credits An Introduction

In addressing the pressing issue of climate change, carbon credits have emerged as a popular tool to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions. 

How does it work?

Carbon credits allow companies to offset their greenhouse gas emissions by funding projects that reduce or remove carbon from the atmosphere. This concept operates on the principle that if one entity cannot eliminate its emissions, it can pay another to cut or capture an equivalent amount.

Carbon emissions are like the smoke that comes out of a chimney when you burn wood. It's the result of burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas to power our homes, cars, and factories. These emissions are full of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, which leads to global warming. Carbon credits then allow companies and individuals to balance their emissions by investing in projects that reduce or remove CO2 from the atmosphere, like planting trees or implementing renewable energy sources.

So, how many filters do we need to balance our footprint? 

This is why knowing exactly how much carbon emissions we produce is crucial. You need to know how much you're emitting to figure out how to reduce it. This involves calculating the amount of CO2 produced by various activities, such as driving a car, flying in a plane, or running a factory. Accurate measurement is crucial because it helps us understand the scale of the problem and set realistic goals for reduction. We need precise data to make informed decisions to reduce carbon emissions. 

This is where carbon calculators come in handy, such as LCI’s Carbon Calculator. This simple carbon calculator lets you input your waste to see how much CO2 you emit. 

By understanding and using a carbon calculator, we can start measuring our emissions, which translates to more effective efforts in mitigating climate change.