Carbon Offsets
Carbon offsets are a market-based mechanism that allows individuals, companies, or governments to compensate for their greenhouse gas emissions by funding projects that reduce, avoid, or remove emissions elsewhere. These projects can include renewable energy installations, reforestation efforts, methane capture from landfills, or energy efficiency improvements. The concept is based on the idea that the climate impact is global, so reducing emissions in one location can offset emissions produced in another.
Developers should learn about carbon offsets when working on sustainability-focused applications, environmental tech (climate tech), or corporate social responsibility (CSR) platforms, as it enables them to integrate carbon accounting and offset purchasing features. This is particularly relevant for industries like travel, logistics, e-commerce, and energy, where companies aim to achieve carbon neutrality or net-zero goals. Understanding carbon offsets helps in building tools for emission tracking, offset verification, and transparent reporting to stakeholders.