Can carbon offsets really save us from climate change?

In this Our Changing Climate environmental video essay, I explain the issues of carbon offsets. Specifically, I look at how carbon offsets work to offset fossil fuel emissions, and whether they are effective in mitigating climate change. I also work through the moral implications of a carbon offset economy.

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Resources:

#carbonoffsets #climatechange #carbonfootprint

[OurChangingClimate]

Have you ever bought carbon offsets? Do you think they lowered your impact? If not, what are some better solutions?

[bendowling]

Not sure I totally agree with the tone of this video. I agree carbon offsets shouldn't be seen as a replacement of living an intentionally less carbon intensive lifestyle, but what about doing that in unison with companies seeking to offset their emissions. Everything else stable, is it not best to have carbon offsets in the flight against climate change? I think people are more likely to watch this video and disregard offsets, without changing anything in their day to day life. OCC you might want to be mindful of unintended consequences when taking the moral high ground.

[Sarahlenea]

It's striking to see that carbon offset programs are nearly always taking place in low income countries that already have a low carbon footprint. We could remove some concrete from our cities to plant more trees, but no, we'd rather take the plane to plant trees in Kenya or Uganda...

[LeahandLevi]

This was such a fun project man! Stoked to see what you cover next!

[ronan_]

Fun fact, I was recently at a citizen participation event in my city that was held to suggest real democracy is at work, and I got a chance to ask the president of the EU and the premier of our federal state why there is no climate agreement for the EU, since the Paris one is neither binding, nor does it have consequences. Our premier replied that there's no need for a binding climate agreement, since we already have a tool to cut emissions: carbon trading. Which he admitted doesn't really work. But if it DID... Man, I am so fed up with politics. Great video, though!

[ballywilliamsgottlieb]

We need more forests. Every country. But as we can see, forest need some maintenance, and it is not a good idea live on the hill full of trees. Thing about forest is that we put carbon "back in to the soil".

[mountainslopes]

Your thumbnails constantly grab my attention. Excellent job!

[atilla]

How many planes actually stay on the ground when I decide not to buy the ticket? I hear that often that the decision of not to take the plane would have a smaller impact on the environment. But is that actually the case?

[pratik.kataria]

It can also be viewed as a meantime mechanism & capping the total carbon generated till the more sustainable tech catches up.

[Giuseppe]

I love the intention of this video, but I think that you are presenting a false dichotomy or trade-off. Carbon offsets and carbon footprint reduction (both individually and at a corporate level) are not mutually exclusive.
To give an example: you could say that there is no point in me running every day if I eat cake. Well, the truth, in that case, is that for every amount of cake I eat, more running is better for me. I think the same logic can be applied to one's carbon footprint. I think that assuming that I will INCREASE my footprint because I pay to offset it seems far fetched.
It is true that one benefits the environment by reducing his/her footprint AND it is true that investing in sustainability projects has a positive impact on the environment.
I think it is also a framing issue: my guess would be that a lot fewer people would raise concerns if I said, "I am going to donate my money on a solar plant in Africa" as opposed to say "I am going to buy a carbon certificate from a solar plant project in Africa" (That is also odd to me because in the second case I assured there is an institution that certifies the benefit of that project).
Would love to hear your thoughts.

[janosvymer]

can this be used from a private person and be more beneficial? That would make sense to me. Since it is different from a whole company

[dallinnelson]

Excellent video. What a frustrating conundrum...

[hedgehog]

This is a great and critical video, good job!

[jorick]

Lovely video, but because you are missing the bigger picture you are writing something off which actually has huge potential in making the world carbon neutral.

Yes you are right, by buying carbon offsets a company can continue its carbon heavy lifestyle, but you are completely missing the fact that carbon offsets will become more and more scarce in the future as emission permits are slowly be decreased by agreements such as the Paris agreement. When you take this increasing prices into account, GHG emissions will eventually become so expensive that companies will have no choice but to move to carbon neutral solutions.

Of course this ultimate scenario won't happen today, but the energy transition won't happen today either and let us hope that we do it before it is to late. In the meanwhile, let's not be negative about carbon offsetting, which is one of the best tools we have to redirect money from carbon intensive businesses to renewable energy projects. Unless you have a better idea of course. In that case please send me a private message and I will make sure we both become rich.

[Telltaletracks]

How is this different from saying that speeding tickets don't discourage speeding? Or, on the flipside(concerning the projects making the credits), that investing in a business won't help it succeed? I feel like you have potentially fallen for some very black and white thinking here

[boyinthemirror]

How about a law which sets a cap to emissions and all emissions lower the cap needs to be offset by paying someone (maybe a new company) for planting trees etc

[karennewton]

WeOffset is great for reducing your carbon footprint

[tuoratoo]

You can further reduce your carbon
footprint by saving water. -An empty 1 gallon milk jug, a funnel to
guide your stream without splashing. All on the top of closed lid
commode. Good for a whole week instead of 6 flushes a day..

[RuiChui]

YouTube's annual carbon footprint is about 10Mt CO2e (Million Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent), according to researchers — about the output of a city the size of Glasgow.
I cannot avoid the driving that I do, as I do long shifts and there are no public transports available at certain times, and distance is too long to bike. I live in the UK but will visit family once a year in my home town, in Portugal. These, which I can't avoid, cost £28.90 to offset.
In 5 out of 7 days, I follow a vegan diet. Thus, in each of those days my diet produces the equivalent of 50% less CO2, uses 1/11th oil, 1/13th water, and 1/18th land compared to a person who eats a meat-based diet.
It's about responsibility. If one could enhance behaviour change on everyone, it would be great. Unfortunately, some people think their actions are not contributing to climate change. The ones who accept their responsibility (like myself) at least try to take some action, even if it is by offsetting emissions, and make some dietary and consumption changes. If everyone was made responsible, along with politicians and corporations, there would be enough capital to implement renewable energy on a massive scale, in a relatively short period of time.

[darrinhoffman]

You are right on in likening the practice of buying carbon credits/carbon offset to that of the medieval Catholic practice of buying indulgences for sins committed. Very insightful. Thanks.