What does it all mean?!

Carbon Footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs), especially carbon dioxide (CO₂), emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product.

Carbon Offset: A reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or other GHGs made in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere.

Greenhouse Gases (GHGs): Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. Common GHGs include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and fluorinated gases.

Net Zero: Achieving a balance between the amount of GHGs emitted and the amount removed from the atmosphere. Often a target for companies or nations by a specific year.

Carbon Neutral: Having a net zero carbon footprint by offsetting emissions with an equivalent amount of carbon removal or offset projects.

Sequestration: The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide, either naturally (e.g., in forests or soil) or through technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Baseline Emissions: The projected or historical level of emissions without intervention, used as a reference point for measuring reduction.

Additionality: A key principle in carbon offsets requiring that the carbon savings would not have occurred without the offset project.

Leakage: When emission reductions in one area result in increased emissions elsewhere.

Permanence: The longevity of a carbon offset’s impact; whether the emissions reductions will remain over time without reversal.