Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity, hydroelectric power or hydroelectric energy is the use of moving water to generate electricity. It is one of the oldest and most widely used forms of renewable energy.
Carbon Offsets
The Anthropocene
The Anthropocene is a period of time during which human activities have impacted the environment enough to constitute a distinct geological change. This includes, but is not limited to climate change.
Climate Change Mitigation
Climate change mitigation is the process of reducing the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere in order to prevent further climate change. Methods of climate change mitigation often include the reduction in an entity’s carbon footprint.
Carbon Taxes
A carbon tax is levied on the carbon emissions required to produce goods and services. They are intended to make visible the “hidden” social costs of carbon emissions.
Carbon Markets
Carbon markets are marketplaces where regulated entities can purchase and trade carbon offsets or credits in order to meet predetermined regulatory targets.
Avoided Deforestation
Avoided deforestation is the protection of existing forests. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and when they are cut down, that carbon is released into the atmosphere. Deforestation accounts for about 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions, so avoiding deforestation is a very important way to reduce our impact on the climate.
Cap-and-Trade Systems
A Cap-and-Trade System is a market-based approach to controlling pollution by providing economic incentives for businesses to reduce emissions. The government sets an emissions cap, and issues a quantity of emission allowances consistent with that cap. Emitters must hold allowances for every ton of greenhouse gas they emit. Companies can buy and sell allowances in a carbon market, and this establishes an emissions price.
How are Carbon Credits Generated?
Offset projects can be implemented in a number of ways, but the most common methods include energy efficiency projects, forestry projects, and renewable energy projects. These projects aim to either avoid the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, or to remove them once they have been emitted.
Climate Change
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing our planet today. It refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns that are caused by human activity, like burning fossil fuels and deforestation. Climate change can lead to more extreme weather conditions, like heatwaves, droughts, and floods. It can also cause harm to wildlife and ecosystems.
China Certified Emission Reduction
The China Certified Emission Reduction (CCER) scheme is a carbon offset program launched in 2005 to help China meet its emissions reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. The scheme allows companies and individuals to earn carbon credits by investing in projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
