What to Know About Buying Carbon Offsets
The purchases help consumers address climate change by seeking to ease the emissions impact.
The purchases help consumers address climate change by seeking to ease the emissions impact.
Some consumers might feel eco-guilt about the takeout containers they have been throwing away or the additional packages they have been shipping from Amazon. Offsets are emerging as a way for people to mitigate the effects of shopping, shipping and travel.
There is no way to take back the carbon you have put in the air through activities such as driving your car or heating your house, and the surest way to reduce your carbon footprint is to drive, fly or buy less. Carbon offsets, created about 20 years ago, claim to provide a way for consumers and institutions to balance out their carbon footprint by investing in environmental projects that remove carbon-dioxide emissions from—or avoid adding them to—the atmosphere.
Offsets are easier than ever to buy online. The coming climate-change summit in Glasgow, called COP26, could put offsets on the radar of more consumers.
It is a tricky topic to navigate, though. The market for offsets isn’t regulated and the quality and authenticity of projects vary widely. It is difficult to know whether offsets purchased will actually make an impact on emissions, said Travis Miller, a stock analyst at Morningstar who specializes in energy and utilities.
Here is what to know about assessing and buying offsets now.
Carbon offsets are credits purchased from projects that are designed to reduce emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gases. These can include investing in a reforestation project in California or constructing cookstoves in Honduras, said Peter Miller, a director of climate and clean energy at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Nonprofits are among the most reputable providers from which consumers may buy offsets, said Clint Henderson, senior news editor at The Points Guy travel website. Nonprofits such as Cool Effect and Carbonfund.org act as a bridge between people and the organizations that create and maintain carbon-reducing projects.
Offsets are measured and sold in metric tons of carbon-dioxide equivalent. One metric ton of carbon-dioxide equivalent is roughly equal to the size of a two-story house, said Dee Lawrence, co-founder of Cool Effect, which sells offsets to consumers.
Consumers can buy offsets to lessen carbon emissions for things as diverse as their vacation, the type of car they drive and the size of their house.
First, they can estimate the impact of their lifestyle—such as how much waste they dispose of, or how many loads of laundry they wash in hot water—by using an online calculator, such as the one from the Environmental Protection Agency or the Nature Conservancy. They could then buy offsets from a provider that sources emissions-reducing projects.
For example, if you fly 10,000 miles, you could buy offsets on Carbonfund.org for $20 to compensate for that flight’s emissions. The price of air-travel offsets is usually dependent on the length of the flight and the class of service, said Mr. Henderson at The Points Guy.
American Airlines gives fliers the option to buy offsets through a partnership with Cool Effect, such as when they purchase their tickets or after the flight. You can get an estimate of your air-travel emissions on Google Flights.
When an individual buys carbon offsets, that person’s money is typically pooled with others’, in a practice somewhat akin to crowdfunding. Together—by funding, say, a wind farm in rural Indiana—Mr. Miller at Morningstar said consumers can collectively reduce the amount of carbon going into the air.
Valuing offsets can be a bit “squishy,” said Mr. Henderson at The Points Guy. Consumers might never see the project firsthand, and they trust that the project they support is actually effective in reducing emissions.
To identify legitimate projects, look for those that clearly specify how emissions are reduced and reported, said Tensie Whelan, director of the Center for Sustainable Business at NYU Stern School of Business.
Generally, Prof. Whelan said, stay away from individuals selling offsets to their personal projects over social media or claiming to run an offset project that doesn’t have third-party oversight. Each metric ton of emissions consumers buy should have a unique serial number. That number helps ensure reductions aren’t resold and double counted, Prof. Whelan said.
Check that the project has permanence. For example, a project for fast-growing eucalyptus that will be cut down in 10 years would lack permanence. Also, make sure the project has independent third-party certification.
A rare slice of Sydney history, Coolabah blends Victorian grandeur with modern luxury in the heart of Greenwich; once home to Lane Cove’s first Lord Mayor and now listed with a $6.5m guide.
Bhutan is pioneering a new frontier in travel by allowing tourists to pay for flights, visas, hotels and even fruit stalls using cryptocurrency via Binance Pay.
Bhutan is pioneering a new frontier in travel by allowing tourists to pay for flights, visas, hotels and even fruit stalls using cryptocurrency via Binance Pay.
Bhutan has become the first country in the world to implement a national-level cryptocurrency payment system for tourism, marking a major milestone in digital innovation and travel.
Launched in partnership with Binance Pay and Bhutan’s fully digital DK Bank, the system enables travellers with Binance accounts to enjoy a seamless, end-to-end crypto-powered journey. More than 100 local merchants, from hotels and tour operators to small roadside vendors in remote villages, are already live on the system.
“This is more than a payment solution — it’s a commitment to innovation, inclusion, and convenience,” said Damcho Rinzin, Director of the Department of Tourism, Bhutan.
“It enables a seamless experience for travellers and empowers even small vendors in remote villages to participate in the tourism economy.”
Using supported cryptocurrencies, tourists can now pay for nearly every part of their trip, including airline tickets, visas, the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), hotel stays, monument entry fees, local guides, and shopping, all through secure static and dynamic QR code payments.
Binance CEO Richard Teng praised the move, saying: “We are excited to partner with Bhutan as we are not only advancing the use of cryptocurrencies in travel but also setting a precedent for how technology can bridge cultures and economies. This initiative exemplifies our commitment to innovation and our belief in a future where digital finance empowers global connectivity and enriches travel experiences.”
Known as the “Kingdom of Happiness,” Bhutan has long prioritised Gross National Happiness over GDP, with a strong focus on sustainability, cultural preservation, and societal well-being. The new system aligns with these values by reducing payment friction and bringing financial inclusion to local communities.
Among the key features of the system:
Seamless Experience: Tourists can pay with crypto for all travel-related expenses.
Inclusive Reach: Small vendors, even in remote areas, can accept QR code payments.
Lower Fees: Transactions cost significantly less than traditional payment methods.
Comprehensive Support: More than 100 cryptocurrencies supported, including BNB, BTC, and USDC.
Secure and Instant: Real-time confirmations, 2FA, and encrypted transactions via the Binance app.
Behind the local settlement mechanism is DK Bank, Bhutan’s first fully digital bank. Licensed by the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan, it aims to deliver accessible financial services to all, including marginalised and unbanked communities.
The launch is being hailed as a bold step forward in integrating digital finance with global tourism — one that could set the benchmark for other nations looking to modernise the travel experience while empowering their local economies.
Chinese fashion giant faces a double whammy of steep U.S. tariffs and an end to its duty-free shipping.
Biophilic design isn’t just about adding greenery—it’s about creating immersive, sensory-rich spaces that restore, inspire, and connect us to the natural world.