how offsetting works?

An offset is a verified reduction or removal of greenhouse gasses that is used to counterbalance or compensate for emissions from other activities. Offsets can be purchased by countries, companies or individuals. The key criterion for an offset is that its greenhouse gas reduction would not have happened anyway. Offsetting should always be considered as a third step in a strategy to reduce emissions. The first two steps should be to reduce emissions through reduced consumption or improved efficiency and the second is to use renewable energy electricity. Once these cost effective emissions reduction opportunities have been exhausted, offsetting provides a way to balance out the remaining emissions.

By offsetting, you are also investing in projects that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and their effects. You are also investing in technologies and practices that make us all less dependent on fossil fuels. At Opt2Go we only invest in projects that are accredited, certified and socially responsible.

Opt2Go credits are verified by independent third parties and certified by the VCS (Voluntary Carbon Standard). The VCS program provides a robust, new global standard and program for approval of credible voluntary offsets. VCS offsets must be real (have happened), additional (beyond business-as-usual activities), measurable, permanent (not temporarily displace emissions), independently verified and unique (not used more than once to offset emissions).