So, What Exactly Is a Carbon Credit?

Source: Um Só Planeta
Author: Janaína Dallan
Image: Getty Images

"Carbon, the foundation of life on Earth, may now jeopardize our survival on the planet. Carbon credits are in the media, in political and scientific debates, and in everyday conversations. But what are they, and how can they help us?" 

A carbon credit represents the "non-emission" or removal of one metric ton of carbon from the atmosphere. It serves as a financial incentive for lower-emission activities and technologies, or for those that capture carbon from the atmosphere. We know that not only industries, but all our daily actions emit carbon—from simple acts like eating a snack or driving to the store, to taking a domestic flight for a business meeting. The release of carbon, through pollutants such as CO₂ and methane, contributes to the greenhouse effect, altering the climate and driving global warming.