Advice | Community | State Reports | Videos | Photos | Blogs
Join | Login
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Earth Matters Lifestyle Technology Business Transportation Home Food Family
  • Green News Roundup
  • Our Bloggers
  • MNN TV
  • Community
  • State Reports
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Climate Change
  • Wilderness & Resources
  • Energy
  • Politics
  • Translating Uncle Sam
  • Cars
  • Planes, trains, bikes
  • Shipping
  • Green Office
  • Finance
  • Green Jobs
  • Building, Products, Supplies
  • Research & Innovations
  • Computers
  • Gadgets & Electronics
  • Cooking & Recipes
  • Farms & Gardens
  • Markets & Groceries
  • Dining Out
  • Beer
  • Wine & Spirits
  • Building & Remodeling
  • Interior & Design
  • Gardening & Landscaping
  • Household Products
  • Recycling
  • Beauty & Fashion
  • Books
  • Ecollywood
  • Health & Well-being
  • My Green Day
  • Travel
  • Pets & Animals
  • Baby
  • Education & Activities
  • Holiday
MNN.COM > Eco-Glossary

Carbon Offsets

 
Carbon offsets — reductions of greenhouse gas emissions from an activity in one place to compensate for emissions elsewhere — are a way to address climate change by paying someone else to reduce emissions. To be credible, an offset must be additional — it must reduce emissions below the quantity emitted in a business-as-usual scenario — among other criteria. Assessing credibility is inherently challenging because it is difficult to make business-as-usual projections. Outside the U.S., offsets may be purchased on compliance markets to meet requirements to reduce emissions. In the U.S., there are no federal requirements and offsets may be purchased in the voluntary market. (Source: GAO / Photo: Flickr)

Recent Stories


Faster than a speeding bullet

Thu, Mar 18 2010 at 1:38 PM EST

Spain's high-speed rail ridership takes off.


Taking the carrot approach to reducing carbon footprints at home

Thu, Mar 18 2010 at 9:34 AM EST

Energy brokers in White Plaines, N.Y., hope their idea of paying people a few bucks to put on a sweater instead of turning up the heat might be more effective than finger wagging.


Study: EU's 'carbon fat cats' get rich off trading scheme

Wed, Mar 10 2010 at 12:52 PM EST

The system for industrial carbon quotas could allow 10 firms to collect surplus CO2 permits worth $4.3 billion by 2012.


Hackers steal $4 million in carbon credits

Mon, Feb 08 2010 at 11:04 PM EST

European carbon market comes to a screeching halt after hackers use a phishing scheme to steal $4 million in emissions credits.


UK to struggle to meet green energy targets

Tue, Feb 02 2010 at 10:05 AM EST

Unless energy consumption remains low, Britain likely to lag behind EU neighbors.


Vancouver 2010: The greenest Olympics?

Thu, Jan 28 2010 at 11:56 AM EST

Winter Games host focuses on LEED certification, alternative transportation and carbon offsets for construction and (hopefully) travelers.


Homeowners: Sell your own carbon credits

Thu, Jan 14 2010 at 7:31 PM EST

My Emissions Exchange just sold its first carbon credit on behalf of the Wilsons, a family in Harrisburg, Penn.


Graft threatens Indonesia's carbon offset program

Tue, Jan 12 2010 at 7:48 AM EST

Forestry officials warn investors of the government's history of financial mismanagement before millions of dollars are spent on the greenhouse gas offset scheme.


Pay your legal fees with carbon credits

Fri, Dec 18 2009 at 2:48 PM EST

Clients of the Cueto Law Group in Miami, Fla., can now pay up to 20% of their legal fees with carbon credits.


Soviet industrial collapse reaps climate credits

Tue, Dec 15 2009 at 11:20 AM EST

Russia and the Ukraine hope to keep the abundance of carbon credits that they receive under the Kyoto Protocol.


  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • >>
  • >|

ADVERTISEMENT

Mother Nature. Delivered.

MNN's weekly newsletter sent straight to your inbox.
Follow us on Twitter Fan us on Facebook


Quick Links

  • Earth Matters
  • Transportation
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Food
  • Home
  • Lifestyle
  • Family

 

  • Advice
  • Community
  • State Reports
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Blogs

MNN Tools

  • About us
  • Advisory Board
  • Press
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy
  • Terms of service
  • Contact us

All About MNN

  • Join MNN
  • Newsletters
  • RSS
  • Eco-glossary
  • Widgets
  • MNN Contests
  • MNN Lists
  • MNN Mobile
 

Copyright © 2010 MNN Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Website by GLICK INTERACTIVE | Powered by COLOCUBE
 
SPONSORS