How to offset your carbon emissions

Many carbon credit providers in Australia suggest carbon offsetting as the way to reduce your impact on climate change. However, it is nowadays widely accepted that measuring and reducing your carbon footprint should be the first steps to consider before you purchase carbon credits.

One of Australia's most reputable carbon offset providers, the Carbon Reduction Institute, points out that measuing and reducing should always come before offsetting. "There are many ways how you can lower your personal carbon footprint, which is in most beneficial for the environment; and after you've reduced everything you can you should buy carbon credits to offset your unavoidable carbon emissions." sayd Berenike Hartmann, marketing manager at the Carbon Reduction Institute.

Once you decide to buy carbon credits, you should look carefully at the schemes and company you go with. Not all carbon offset providers are accredited under any scheme and just hope to make quick money from the new emerging carbon credit market. The Carbon Reduction Institute calculator gives you the option to purchase accredited and properly certified credits, from projects that are environmentally and financially additional and permanent, resulting in a true carbon emissions saving.

For more information on carbon credits and what to look out for when you buy them can be found on the CRI website.