The word 'offsetting' simply means 'compensating for'. 'Carbon offsetting' means compensating for carbon dioxide (CO2) that's being generated. We need to compensate for CO2 because of the threats posed by climate change.

Realistically, no-one can expect people to cut out absolutely everything they do that leads to CO2 emissions. We all can - and must - reduce the CO2 we're responsible for, but offsetting means we can compensate for the CO2 we can't avoid creating. Carbon offsetting schemes work by reducing CO2 that would otherwise be created, or by removing existing CO2 from the atmosphere.

And who benefits from the carbon offsetting? Who gets compensated? The answer is Planet Earth - and absolutely everyone and everything that lives on it. - Description added by: David Lockie

Renewable and alternative energy sources are set to play an increasingly important role in providing the electricity, heat, cooling and fuels that society needs. There is a wide range of energy sources such as solar (both photovoltaic and solar thermal), wind, bio-fuels and biomass, hydro-electric, geothermal and heat pumps. - Description added by: David Lockie

Our homes are responsible for a growing percentage of overall carbon emissions, as our use of new electronic gadgets grows, we continue to leave devices running on standby (responsible for 10% of our energy bills!), and waste precious heat and resources. Fortunately there are a lot of things we can do to lower our carbon footprints in our home, including improving energy efficiency, installing renewable energy, recycling, and using more efficient appliances. Click the picture to the right to search our interactive domestic environment. - Description added by: David Lockie