What’s the project you’re offsetting with?

How will this help the planet?

What are the risks of this type of project?

So… should I buy this offset?

Renewable energy: like wind, solar or geothermal projects

Stops fossil fuel-powered energy. Helps the economy transition. 

Some projects have bad environmental consequences - like hydropower projects damming a beautiful river. 

These offsets are pretty good, they’re just more common overseas. Make sure the offsets are led ideally by First Nations custodians, or by who’s living there.

Savanna burning: led by First Nations groups

Fires burnt earlier in the year under Indigenous burning methods burn cooler and with less fuel, reducing carbon emissions. And they have other benefits, like First Nations employment and better biodiversity. 

It’s harder to measure the actual reduction, because we don’t always know what would happen if the fire wasn’t managed.

If managed well, these offsets are good - and they’re in high demand in Australia.

Methane recovery (landfills or livestock)

Methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas, so projects go a long way to reducing emissions.

Make sure the project isn’t already covered by existing regulation - like, landfill sites might already need to manage their emissions, so the project could be ‘double counting’ emission reductions.

These ones aren’t too bad. Landfill might be better if you’re not keen on supporting the livestock industry.

Energy efficient technology, like electric stoves and lamps

Reduces demand for fossil fuels (like kerosene lamps), and is easy to measure.

Better energy efficiency of fossil fuels needs to be avoided. ‘Clean coal’ is still coal.

Risky. We’d avoid these ones, unless you’re sure the risks are addressed by the offsetter (look for independent offset verification).

Planting or protecting forests and trees

Trees remove carbon and have other benefits like less soil erosion, better habitat conditions, and overall biodiversity

Trees can burn, get logged, or die. These projects need to be around for decades to actually remove carbon. Or, the forest might already be protected, so no extra carbon is actually removed. 

Be careful with forest projects. Ideally they’ll be diverse, well managed, incorporate Indigenous land management practices, and be doing something that wouldn’t otherwise happen.