The internet and other modern communication networks are vital to the global economy, but they are also significant consumers of electricity and carbon producers – from the construction to the ongoing consumption (data centre construction is now limited by the lack of available power to keep them running). At the same time, they offer a route to reduce carbon production from transport and buildings as people can work from home or reduce their business travel. - Description added by: David Lockie

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

You can add your own description here to help people understand what 'carbon emissions' means

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