If you’re searching for ways to reduce your carbon footprint, we applaud you. It’ll take all of us to help mitigate the effects of climate change. Carbon offsets are a great way for everyone to make a difference as we pursue more climate-friendly lifestyles and find ways to further reduce our emissions. Below we’ll cover what carbon offsets are, the benefits, and how to join a carbon offset program. But first, some stats for you.
Carbon emissions are built into our daily lives. Most of us don’t realize the amount of carbon we create. Average Americans contribute 35,714.9 lbs of CO2 to the atmosphere annually. That’s a whole lot of carbon, and much of it is out of our direct control. As a country, the US is the 2nd highest carbon contributor. Our economy relies heavily on transportation, industry, and power generation. These 3 factors account for the bulk of CO2 released into the atmosphere by the US.
However, there is good news. We have the 3rd largest population in the world, and thanks to technology, can take steps to mitigate carbon at the individual level. For most people, carbon offsets are a great start.
What Are Carbon Offsets?
There are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint. You could ride your bike to work, eliminate single use plastics, and reduce your meat consumption. All of these things are great and we encourage everyone to make lifestyle changes to reduce their carbon footprint. But, we understand this can take time and isn’t possible for everyone. With so much carbon creation built in to our everyday life, becoming carbon neutral can feel like a pipe dream.
Carbon offsets are actions to reduce atmospheric CO2 to make up for carbon we created. Examples include building renewable energy plants and making buildings more efficient. However, it is tough for individuals to make an impact this way. We have to rely on businesses and policymakers to make those decisions for us.
That’s where carbon offsets via tree planting comes in. Planting just 5 trees per month can completely offset the carbon footprint of the average American. Trees do this by capturing carbon from the atmosphere as they grow. According to ourworldindata.org, each tree captures 680lbs of carbon during its lifespan. That makes trees an excellent option for carbon offsetting at the individual level. Tree planting also has a host of other benefits that other carbon offsetting activities don’t provide. More on that below.
Tree planting is an affordable, low-effort way to make up for your carbon creation. The best part? Pairing carbon offsets with some of the carbon-reducing activities above mean you can become carbon negative. You can be a part of the solution to the global climate crisis!
Ready to make a difference? Click here to learn more about our tree planting programs for individuals.
Is Carbon Offsetting Worth It?
As part of our mission to positively impact the planet, we firmly believe that carbon offsetting is well worth the effort. Not only does tree planting reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, it also enhances the entire ecosystem.
First, it helps improve the environment by restoring animal habitat, rain patterns and water tables while also preventing erosion. Keeping our environment healthy has bonus effects on the planet’s climate.
In addition to reducing carbon restoring the environment, tree planting provides new opportunities for local communities. We have 88 planting sites across 5 countries. Included in those projects are areas hit hard by poverty and hunger. By planting trees in these regions we can help reduce poverty, increase crop yield, and stabilize local economies. We’re really proud of all our planting projects, check them out here.
So is carbon offsetting worth it? When you consider the carbon capture, environmental improvements, and the help to humanity, the answer is a resounding yes. We are passionate about using trees are a tool to help the planet, and we are happy to provide you with the opportunity to do the same.
How To Buy Carbon Offsets
At The Carbon Offset Company, we want to give every individual a chance to help reduce harmful carbon in the environment. We’ve got affordable plans that will put your carbon offsetting on autopilot, along with all the other benefits to the environment.
For just $5 per month, we’ll plant 5 trees on your behalf. Joining a program comes with these benefits:
Ready to get started? We’d love to have you on board. Check out our available plans here. They range from 1 month up to 12 months, and it only takes a few clicks to get started. Do your part and start living carbon neutral today!
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