The prioritization of climate change has inspired hundreds of businesses to take carbon-neutral pledges or reduce internal emissions. Individuals have also kick-started volume in the market as more people decide to offset their personal carbon footprints.
Individuals
Everyone in the world emits pollutants in one way or another every day. We drive cars, use electricity, and fly on planes. By offsetting their emissions, individual buyers pioneer an ethical movement that influences how people think and act about sustainability in the modern world.
Institutions
Some of carbon offsets' most significant institutional buyers include prominent corporations, universities, governments, and nonprofits.
For example, Google recently spent almost $1 billion on carbon offsets. Microsoft has also purchased offsets to compensate for emissions from its cloud computing services. The University of California system has offset emissions from its campuses and research facilities. The government of the United Kingdom has used offsets to help meet self-imposed climate targets.
Why Do Institutions Buy Offsets?
Carbon offsets are a popular way for institutions to reduce their emissions because they are used to finance projects that would not otherwise get funding.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has used them to fund projects that reduce emissions in developing countries, and the Clinton Foundation has used them to support clean energy projects in Africa.
In addition to meeting sustainability goals and philanthropy, many large institutions are motivated by self-interest to use carbon offsets.
Large institutions benefit from how interconnected the world is in the 21st century, but it also means they are more at risk if something affects many parts of the world. Since large institutions have such widespread influence, theyβre facing a huge challenge not to have their operations affected by the climate crisis.
Many large institutions are in the same position as Starbucks. Climate change risk factors motivate some of the worldβs largest companies, governments, nonprofits, and universities to support voluntary carbon markets.
Compliance Industries
Itβs important to note that not all companies use the carbon offset market to reduce emissions. The compliance markets regulate some companies, which are a slightly different form of environmental accounting.
Conclusion
Carbon offsets satisfy the needs of a diverse group. Buyers range from large institutions like Google to your close friends and family. We all impose costs on the planet, and buying carbon offsets is how groups and individuals take responsibility.
If youβre interested in joining that list, offset your emissions here.
