Frequently Asked Questions
- Who can buy carbon offsets?
- Carbon offsetting is no longer limited to large companies and corporations. Individuals, families, organizations, and small businesses can now offset their ecological footprints, no matter how small or large. By using the EcoNeutral™ Carbon Calculator, you can determine the size of your carbon footprint and purchase carbon credits directly online.
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- Carbon offsetting is no longer limited to large companies and corporations. Individuals, families, organizations, and small businesses can now offset their ecological footprints, no matter how small or large. By using the EcoNeutral™ Carbon Calculator, you can determine the size of your carbon footprint and purchase carbon credits directly online.
- Why would I want to buy carbon offsets?
- Buying carbon offsets is simply good for the planet! By voluntarily offsetting your personal or corporate greenhouse gas "footprint", you are directly assisting efforts to address climate change. Climate change is a long-term problem. Although we may not see it "fixed" in our lifetimes, we can start to turn the tide for future generations! Healthy restored ecosystems will continue to remove CO2 from the atmosphere for centuries, providing long-term climate mitigation benefits for future generations. Buying carbon offsets is a decision you can feel good about!
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- Buying carbon offsets is simply good for the planet! By voluntarily offsetting your personal or corporate greenhouse gas "footprint", you are directly assisting efforts to address climate change. Climate change is a long-term problem. Although we may not see it "fixed" in our lifetimes, we can start to turn the tide for future generations! Healthy restored ecosystems will continue to remove CO2 from the atmosphere for centuries, providing long-term climate mitigation benefits for future generations. Buying carbon offsets is a decision you can feel good about!
- What does buying offsets do to benefit the environment?
- As we continue our efforts to address climate change by avoiding and reducing carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere with the development of new technologies, renewable energy sources, and energy efficiency measures, carbon offsetting plays the critical role of removing existing atmospheric carbon emissions. As well, by buying EcoNeutral™ carbon credits, you are not only reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, you are also directly assisting in the restoration of degraded forest ecosystems, the enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat, and the creation of vital jobs in small communities.
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- As we continue our efforts to address climate change by avoiding and reducing carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere with the development of new technologies, renewable energy sources, and energy efficiency measures, carbon offsetting plays the critical role of removing existing atmospheric carbon emissions. As well, by buying EcoNeutral™ carbon credits, you are not only reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, you are also directly assisting in the restoration of degraded forest ecosystems, the enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat, and the creation of vital jobs in small communities.
- Where does the money go? What percentage goes directly to the earth? What percentage goes to administration, etc?
- All of ERA's financial resources are directed to advancing ecosystem restoration and climate mitigation in BC communities. This includes site preparation, planting, measurement, validation, verification, and ongoing maintenance on the site.
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- All of ERA's financial resources are directed to advancing ecosystem restoration and climate mitigation in BC communities. This includes site preparation, planting, measurement, validation, verification, and ongoing maintenance on the site.
- How many trees need to be planted to offset my carbon footprint?
- The amount of carbon sequestered (removed and stored) by trees is variable, depending on site productivity and tree species. Since each individual and organization's footprint is different, the number of trees planted depends on the specific size of your footprint. By offsetting your carbon footprint, you are not only supporting the planting of trees, but also other ecosystem restoration initiatives such as the removal of invasive species. Like tree planting, these initiatives are vital to the success of the restoration program, and thereby they directly affect the amount of carbon sequestered in a specific area.
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- The amount of carbon sequestered (removed and stored) by trees is variable, depending on site productivity and tree species. Since each individual and organization's footprint is different, the number of trees planted depends on the specific size of your footprint. By offsetting your carbon footprint, you are not only supporting the planting of trees, but also other ecosystem restoration initiatives such as the removal of invasive species. Like tree planting, these initiatives are vital to the success of the restoration program, and thereby they directly affect the amount of carbon sequestered in a specific area.
- Where are these trees being planted?
- Currently, ecosystem restoration initiatives, including tree-planting, are taking place in the District of Maple Ridge, and are pending in a number of other BC and First Nations communities. ERA has targeted the healthy temperate rainforests in Western Canada because they represent the most effective and long-lived CO2 removal systems on Earth. ERA is taking degraded systems, and returning them to their historic capacities to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. These healthy, restored ecosystems will continue to sequester CO2 from the environment for centuries to come.
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- Currently, ecosystem restoration initiatives, including tree-planting, are taking place in the District of Maple Ridge, and are pending in a number of other BC and First Nations communities. ERA has targeted the healthy temperate rainforests in Western Canada because they represent the most effective and long-lived CO2 removal systems on Earth. ERA is taking degraded systems, and returning them to their historic capacities to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. These healthy, restored ecosystems will continue to sequester CO2 from the environment for centuries to come.
- Will you email me annually to remind me to offset my carbon footprint again?
- Yes!
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- Yes!
- Do I get anything in return for buying the offsets?
- When you purchase EcoNeutral™ carbon offsets, you will receive a personalized certificate identifying the volume of CO2 you have had removed from the atmosphere to neutralize your footprint.
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- When you purchase EcoNeutral™ carbon offsets, you will receive a personalized certificate identifying the volume of CO2 you have had removed from the atmosphere to neutralize your footprint.
- How can I inform my clients that my company has a zero footprint?
- We will provide branding materials as requested.
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- We will provide branding materials as requested.
- Are there other ways I can minimize my footprint?
- There are many other ways to reduce your footprint. For example, you can choose to ride, walk, or take the bus to work. Use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs in your home, and make sure to turn off lights and computers when they are not in use. Also, you can choose low emissions vehicles, retrofit your heating/cooling systems to high efficiency heat pumps and furnaces, and eat locally produced, organic food whenever possible.
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- There are many other ways to reduce your footprint. For example, you can choose to ride, walk, or take the bus to work. Use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs in your home, and make sure to turn off lights and computers when they are not in use. Also, you can choose low emissions vehicles, retrofit your heating/cooling systems to high efficiency heat pumps and furnaces, and eat locally produced, organic food whenever possible.
- Isn't this just a "quick" fix?
- This is a slow and gradual approach to climate change mitigation. The CO2 removals begin slowly, but then snowball into an "avalanche of removals". For example, a single Sitka spruce seed weighs only 1/500th of a gram, and yet it contains all the information needed to produce a tree that can weigh more than three hundred tonnes - about as much as three blue whales. ¹ This same tree is largely composed of carbon, that has been removed from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
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- This is a slow and gradual approach to climate change mitigation. The CO2 removals begin slowly, but then snowball into an "avalanche of removals". For example, a single Sitka spruce seed weighs only 1/500th of a gram, and yet it contains all the information needed to produce a tree that can weigh more than three hundred tonnes - about as much as three blue whales. ¹ This same tree is largely composed of carbon, that has been removed from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
- How do we know it is real?
- ERA project implementations are 3rd party verified, by a registered professional biologist &/or a professional forester. Carbon removals are calculated with thoroughly tested carbon sequestration methodologies.
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- ERA project implementations are 3rd party verified, by a registered professional biologist &/or a professional forester. Carbon removals are calculated with thoroughly tested carbon sequestration methodologies.
- Some folks and organizations call ecosystem-based offsets "wrong-minded" - why would they say this?
- Some organizations believe that tree-planting is too easy, or inexpensive, and does not penalize "polluters." In reality, ecosystem restorations are capital intensive, and ERA's programming relies on organizations that are "over achievers" in environmental performance, as they support this work voluntarily, not because they are forced to do so.
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- Some organizations believe that tree-planting is too easy, or inexpensive, and does not penalize "polluters." In reality, ecosystem restorations are capital intensive, and ERA's programming relies on organizations that are "over achievers" in environmental performance, as they support this work voluntarily, not because they are forced to do so.
- Why aren't you a "not for profit"?
- ERA relies on a strong business model and does not rely on government subsidies - it is therefore sustainable. ERA professionals and staff are compensated fairly for their work in developing and purveying environmental benefits to communities and the planet.
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- ERA relies on a strong business model and does not rely on government subsidies - it is therefore sustainable. ERA professionals and staff are compensated fairly for their work in developing and purveying environmental benefits to communities and the planet.
- What relationship does this type of project have to the Kyoto Protocol and carbon trading?
- The current model is based on voluntary measures which are not directly linked to any regulatory regime. The benefits are legally "retired" immediately, which means the sponsor would register the action and sequestered carbon in a suitable registry for recognition and/or in support of their footprint neutral operations or products. Trading is not anticipated.
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- The current model is based on voluntary measures which are not directly linked to any regulatory regime. The benefits are legally "retired" immediately, which means the sponsor would register the action and sequestered carbon in a suitable registry for recognition and/or in support of their footprint neutral operations or products. Trading is not anticipated.
[1] Additional References are found in Appendix 3.
Questions and Answers with Dr. Robert Falls
Here is a series of questions by participants in a Carbon Workgroup organized by EcoTrust and the Pembina Institute directed to Dr. Robert Falls, CEO ERA Ecosystem Restoration Associates.
Can you address the question of purchasing offsets for sequestration that will happen over a very long period of time (e.g., the life of a tree)?
DR FALLS: The reality is that climate change can only be addressed over a "long period of time". It has taken mankind well over a century to create the problem, and it will take at least that long to mitigate it. Healthy, long-lived forests re-established now, will provide climate mitigation benefits over this entire stabilization period, removing vast tonnages of carbon from the atmosphere, while complementary efforts to reduce emissions through technological means, are implemented. (It is worth noting that a fundamental tenet of sustainable development is generational parity, i.e. as much value is placed on delivering benefits to future generations, as current ones.)
Also, the photosynthetic (carbon-removing) action of healthy ecosystems is the only viable way of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As emissions continue to grow globally for decades to come, the Kyoto Protocol and other policy instruments notwithstanding, the only viable way to counterbalance this growth is by growing removals. The only practical way to do this, is with long-lived trees. The longer we procrastinate, the more and longer climate impacts will be felt by our children's children. This means the argument that only 20% of offsets should represent removals (sequestration) is spurious.
Does the sequestration change over the life of a tree and therefore do the offsets sold change over time?
DR. FALLS: If you look at a graph of sequestration over time, there is a sinusoidal ("S") curve reflecting carbon uptake. The long-lived conifers in this region live for several centuries. We quantify the first 80 - 100 years of removals, but the benefits continue, although in the tree's latter stages, removals do slow down. This occurs well beyond the accounting period of the project.
Could you please address risks associated with permanence?
DR. FALLS: The fact that we have a climate change problem linked to fossil carbon being emitted into the atmosphere, both from mankind's activities (e.g. transportation, power generation, etc.), and natural events (e.g. naturally burning coal and leaking methane reserves), demonstrates that there is no such thing as "permanence", even for geologically stored carbon.
The carbon bound in coastal B.C. rainforests, is essentially "out of the loop" for centuries. And when a tree does die, centuries from now, the carbon bound therein will not return to the atmosphere, unless it is burned. In terms of regulations, and beyond our 80 – 100 year agreements with local government, three levels of regulations provide legal protection to the restored forest ecosystems.
To further mitigate the risk of leakage (lost permanence), we remove 25% of the carbon tonnes from our offset inventory and place in a "reserve", so that it can be used to replace lost tonnes. In other words, we are very conservative in terms of what tonnes are made available.