Carbon Offset Projects

We’ll help you understand the different types of carbon offset projects available in New Zealand, and the considerations you should make before buying carbon credits.

What exactly is carbon offsetting?

Carbon offsetting options for Kiwi businesses

Carbon offsetting is an activity to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, to compensate for emissions produced elsewhere. The idea is that emissions from one source can be balanced out by investing in projects that reduce emissions or remove carbon from the atmosphere.

Carbon offsetting programmes can take many forms, and the project(s) you choose will depend on many factors. Businesses can buy carbon offsets from New Zealand or international projects. These may be for forestry or non-forestry projects. The price of purchasing carbon credits can vary substantially, depending on the project.

These include whether you want to focus locally, your offsetting budget, and the kinds of activities you want to align with. For example, you may want to support projects that capture and store carbon, because of the co-benefits of reducing soil erosion and providing natural habitats. These projects may entail reforestation or the preservation of existing forests, or a mix of both. Or you may choose to invest in renewable energy projects – like wind or solar farms – which displace fossil fuel-based electricity generation. We’ll also give you clear strategies to steer clear of low-quality offset credits.