By Elizabeth Herman | Posted: August 28, 2019
When the grand cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris burned earlier this summer, the wood from an ancient forest disappeared, and can never be replaced. But those raw materials, when living in trees, had worked to balance the earth’s atmosphere, converting carbon dioxide back into the oxygen needed for humans to survive and for the water system to purify itself.
Now, on an even grander scale, a huge forest fire in South America’s Amazon rainforest is consuming our vital system of living, breathing protection from the chaos brought on by climate change. Does this fire get as much attention as one in a man-made building? What kind of destructive collective ego do we have to let the earth continue to suffer for the sake of our own wealth? How many billionaires will rush to restore the rainforest, like they did for the cathedral?
The Amazonian wildfire has been burning for weeks now. But there are people making positive efforts on nature’s behalf. We can take a look at how some environmentalists are giving back to mitigate what appears to be overwhelming damage.
What is carbon offsetting?
Carbon offsetting allows you to calculate your carbon footprint and the amount of money that you need to donate to neutralize your contribution to worsening climate change. A reminder of this process came recently from Twitter, when pop star Elton John defended the use of a private plane.
In the tweets, Elton stated he has taken on the practice of making sure his travel is offset in terms of carbon emissions, through his contribution to a fund that supports carbon neutralizing projects around the world. Until he spoke up so educationally on social media, I wasn’t aware that private plane travel could be offset through such donations. I took this opportunity to learn more about the concept of carbon offsets and projects associated with it.
A day later, Ellen DeGeneris and Pink hopped on Elton’s bandwagon. It seems constructive for celebrities and others with public platforms to join with famous do-gooders and look at ways to help the cause of a healthy, balanced climate on planet Earth. While carbon offsetting for private jet travel may not be the only way, it helps to remind everyone that this practice is available to small as well as large donors.
Ways to offset your carbon emissions
Terraton initiative works to replace carbon lost from the earth’s soil due to agricultural processes. Using photosynthesis, carbon pollution in the atmosphere is transferred back into the soil, making the land more fertile and the air cleaner at the same time.
Cool effect provides concrete ways to offset the production of carbon dioxide by contributing money to a wide variety of projects (such as providing custom-built cookstoves for Honduran families that burn half the amount of wood) that reduce carbon emissions. The user-friendly calculator on this website informs individuals and businesses about each aspect of living, such as home, travel, etc. in specific, carbon-related terms, so that offsetting each specific polluting act clearly benefits the planet through a range of methods.
Carbon Footprint emphasizes the benefits to climate as well as the needs of communities in which the carbon offset contributions work. Relieving health problems, providing employment, and preserving biodiversity are other benefits. The website offers a calculator that helps to break down each carbon emission source users have one by one, so you can calculate and offset emissions for one plane flight at a time, for instance.
By contributing, even on a smaller scale, to carbon pollution prevention programs globally, any ordinary person can help to offset their own damaging consumption of fossil fuels, and support the renewable energy that the earth naturally has. Broader international efforts are still needed from every country on earth, and the U.S. is particularly negligent by pulling out of the Paris Climate Accords among other misguided actions. As a result, sustained effort by individuals of all social and economic circumstances currently are probably the earth’s main source of hope.
To offset or not to offset?
According to Sharon Beder from the University of Wollongong in Australia, “Carbon offsets are a greenwashing mechanism that enables individuals to buy themselves green credentials without actually changing their consumption habits, and nations to avoid the more difficult structural and regulatory change necessary to prevent further global warming.”
She isn’t the only objector. There are both pros and cons of voluntary carbon offsetting. The criticism compares these donations for sustainable projects to using recycling as an excuse for over use of single-use plastics for convenience’s sake. Such habits ignore the greenhouse gas emissions produced by recycling plants, so it’s better to avoid all single-use plastics whenever possible. These critics say that carbon offsets do too little, giving consumers a “license to pollute” and they encourage active prevention of harmful emissions instead.
Doing something is better than inaction
When it comes to reducing environmental impact, taking some action is better than none at all. Carbon offsetting is just one ‘tool’ in the ‘toolbox’ to fight the climate crisis. There are many other tools like bicycles or carpools, going vegan, reducing meat consumption, planting trees, composting, practicing zero waste, staying local for vacations, local shopping and eating, growing your own food, buying an electric vehicle, or a combination of all methods, which can be effective. Creating a sustainable culture must include a focus on how we can add many lifestyle practices to reduce or eliminate the considerable environmental harm we’ve already done.
In this context, Elton John is definitely doing his bit by carbon offsetting. Considering security and privacy needs, flying in the private jets may be necessary at times, but is it best on a regular basis? Are there any other more eco-friendly options? Whether we’re rich or poor, we all must ask these kinds of tough questions about our use of fossil fuels. Care and awareness can bring about more mindful approaches to saving and protecting our environment.
Mission green earth
In addition to carbon offsetting and the other carbon reducing practices mentioned above, using social media to make others more aware of these issues can also help. Inspire 5 more friends to join you in working for climate healing with #ClimateChange and #MyMissionGreenEarth, and tag us at fb.me/mymissiongreenearth or instagram.com/mymissiongreenearth!
The Art of Living’s Mission Green Earth initiative in collaboration with the UN offers another way to get involved. In a very short time, ‘Mission Green Earth’ raised the planet’s tree count by 10.6 million, thanks to volunteers who protect and plant indigenous trees. In fact, this endeavor has been one of the biggest in the fight against climate catastrophes.
Join us and help to rescue our only livable planet from climate change. If you haven’t been involved in these possibilities for sustainable behavior before, it feels good to help a worthy cause like this one and have a healthy relationship with mother nature.
Elizabeth Herman writes, offers writing support to clients, teaches, and volunteers for a better world. She has earned a Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Composition, and Literature.
