Protecting the environment has become big business in the 21st century. Everywhere you look, there are eco-friendly products and services that promise to save the planet and make you feel good about being part of the global effort. Carbon offset providers are a small but rapidly growing worldwide industry. Today, there are dozens of companies in the United States, many partnered with bigger businesses and corporations, that will help you calculate your carbon footprint, determine an appropriate carbon offset, and allow you to spend your money to benefit the environment and buy some peace of mind. But, as always, there are plusses, minuses, and questions concerning these companies and the products and services they sell.
What Are Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)?
Greenhouse gases, both natural and manmade, trap heat within our atmosphere and are causing the earth’s surface temperature to rise. There are six gases that primarily contribute to global warming: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (NO2), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).
What’s Wrong With Carbon Dioxide?
We’re producing too much of it. Humans, plants, animals, and other organisms naturally produce CO2, and plants absorb it as part of the process of photosynthesis. But when we talk about air pollution, we’re talking partly about carbon dioxide. Vast amounts of carbon dioxide (and other GHGs) are produced by industrial processes, burning fossil fuels, and deforestation.
What’s The Story On Methane?
Methane has a global warming potential 21 times higher than carbon dioxide. Humans are responsible for about 60% of global methane emissions due to fossil fuel production, waste management (both human and farm animals), landfills, rice cultivation, biomass burning, and more. Methane is also emitted naturally from wetlands, permafrost, freshwater and saltwater, soils, wildfires, and other sources.
Why Are Rainforests So Important?
Tropical rainforests help cool the planet by absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide and producing clouds that reflect sunlight and heat away from the earth. Experts say that between 25 and 30% of the world’s GHG emissions are the result of deforestation. The World Bank reports that 85% of Indonesia’s 3,014 million tons of CO2e emissions are caused by fires and deforestation, making it the third worst offender in the world for GHG emissions (behind China and the United States).